“A somewhat under-the-radar La Mission”, says Robert Parker of the Chateau’s 2006 vintage. Released in the shadow of the now 100-point 2005, the critic points out that the 2006 “was generally overlooked”.
The wine was released En Primeur at £2,950 per 12×75 in early 2007 and initially showed some promise. Parker awarded it a barrel range of 96-100 and called it a “super effort” and “undeniably one of the candidates for the wine of the vintage”. It went on to trade at a high of £3,720 in May 2008 – up 26% on its En Primeur release price.
Since then, both trade prices and Parker points have declined. In February 2009, Parker awarded it 95 in bottle (though still describing it as “one of the vintage's top wines”), then 94 in August 2012. Prices have drifted in a similarly gradual fashion, as the chart above shows. At its lowest point in November 2014 it traded for £1,200: 68% below peak.
Since then, however, it has begun to recover. Mission Haut Brion 2006 traded yesterday for £1,374 per 12×75 – a gain of 14.5% since November – and an increase in bids on the Exchange (all of which are above £1,300) does indicate some change in sentiment.
Will this continue? Yesterday we suggested that the 2006 is among the three La Mission vintages offering the most value (with the 2008 and 2012). To put its price into perspective, Margaux 2006 (94+ points) recently traded for £2,743 – double the price of the La Mission. The wine has also received consistently positive feedback from critics, including Jancis Robinson who described it as “Super lively. Lots tucked in there. Very impressive” and awarded it 18.5/20.
It is perhaps thanks to this that buyers are showing increased interest in the wine: it may still be living in the shadow of its ‘perfect’ sibling – but it does appear to be moving back on to the radar. Where next?
Liv-ex members can click here to view Mission Haut Brion 2006 on the Exchange.
Cellar Watch users can click here to view current and historic price data for Mission Haut Brion 2006.
