Earlier this week, the Exchange reached a milestone, surpassing 10,000 distinct wines traded in a single calendar year – a 38% increase over 2019. Trade this week was centred around wines that featured on an assortment of wine publication’s top 100 lists – a broad sweep of the world’s wine regions was represented.
The Wine Spectator’s top wine is from Spain. The Wine Enthusiast’s top two are from Napa and Alsace. Jeb Dunnuck awarded a southern Rhone the top spot. And going back a few weeks, James Suckling’s number one wine was from Argentina.
These results reflect how much the market has continued to broaden in 2020.
Burgundy has seen its share drift this year. DRC makes up around a fifth of trade for the region (by value) but beyond that there are now a much greater number of less famous wines changing hands and an increasing share of the region’s market has been taken by its white wines.
This week Italy (16.7%) increased its share helped by Massolino Barolo 2016, Wine Spectator’s 7th best wine of the year – it led the region in trade by volume.
The USA and Others reached 9.6% and 5.9% respectively, having been brought into sharper focus by the various critics.
The Rhone drifted (1.2%).
Marques Murrieta, Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2010 led this week’s trade, after being awarded Wine Spectator’s 2020 wine of the year. The wine moved from being the 19th most traded wine from Spain in the first eleven months of the year, to the most traded in December, and fourth most year-to-date. The wine has risen 25% from its pre-announcement level.
Two vintages of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac made the top 5 this week. The 2012 (RP 91) vintage trades at a small premium to the 2013 (RP 90) possibly due to its additional Parker point? The 2016 vintage has been the second most traded wine on Liv-ex in 2020.
Soldera Casse Basse Toscana 100% Sangiovese 2009 saw action around £4,500. The wine has increased nearly 60% in price over the past three years.
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