Activity for Bordeaux was steady at 66.8% this week, but its share of the market by value continues to be low in historical terms. This week Latour announced that it would release its 2005 grand vin later this month. As always, there is market speculation surrounding its ex-chateau release price.
In general, the First Growths have continued to see prices rise. The Fine Wine 50 closed Thursday higher at 341.39 (+0.5%), edging closer to its five-year high of 347.08.
It was another busy week for Italy and Champagne. The two Montalcino 2012s (Altesino and Argiano) featured again. Poggio San Polo Brunello Montalcino 2010 was also active. The most traded Italian vintages were the 2014, 2012 and 2010s.
Trade for Burgundy was much lower this week and dipped below its average of 7.9% for 2016. The region has seen a strong start to 2017, registering 18.4% and 14.2% of trade by value in January and February respectively. DRC Tache 2012 and DRC Echezeaux 2013 both featured in the top wines from Burgundy this week, alongside Prieure Roch Nuits Saint Georges Clos Corvees 2013.
The top wines traded by value were from Bordeaux and Champagne. Angelus 2011 was top and traded at an all-time high of £2,285 per 12×75. According to Robert Parker, the wine is “supple and sexy with lots of blueberry and black raspberry fruit intermixed with liquorice, barbecue smoke and camphor.” He awarded it 94 points.
Latour 1996 was also active. It is a wine that has divided critics at The Wine Advocate. Parker awarded it 99 points calling it a “spectacular Latour.” It “continues to perplex” Neal Martin who awarded it 95 points.
Lynch Bages 2008
93-point Lynch Bages 2008 hit an all-time high of £1,013 this week. It is up 23.4% year-on-year, and 9.8% on its previous trade price of £923.
Looking for weekend reading? This week, Liv-ex published two blogs on the forthcoming Latour 2005 release – Latour 2005: ‘Fair Value’ among the back vintages and Latour 2005: a chequered past. Liv-ex also published the merchant prediction results from its survey – Fine wine merchants bullish in 2017 – survey results.
