With Chinese drinkers queuing at the bars of Shanghai and Beijing to buy d’Yquem (often described as the world’s greatest sweet wine), London’s premier fine wine merchant Bordeaux Index (www.bordeauxindex.com ) last month sold over 150 cases (12 bottles or 24 half bottles per case) at £1,450 per case
With Chinese drinkers queuing at the bars of Shanghai and Beijing to buy d’Yquem (often described as the world’s greatest sweet wine), London’s premier fine wine merchant Bordeaux Index last month sold over 150 cases (12 bottles or 24 half bottles per case) at £1,450 per case.
“Our network of contacts in China are telling us d’Yquem has suddenly become highly fashionable,” says Bordeaux Index founder and MD Gary Boom. “It’s become the drink of choice – much in the way that Dom Perignon Rose was in Japan 15 to 20 years ago.”
Pre-orders for the 2010 en primeur remained strong during the month, with Asian focus again concentrated on the top end of the market.
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“It’s reassuring that interest hasn’t waned,” observed Gary Boom. “As this vintage is very classic in style, the wines are perfectly balanced and are more appealing for the traditional claret buyer. We’re all looking forward to the Chateaux releasing their wines over the next few weeks.”
The month’s Bordeaux Index ‘bargain buy’ is Lanessan 2005. Attracting a score of 90 points (out of the maximum 100) from influential critic Robert Parker, it’s proving a popular buy at a price of £12.50/bottle.
With summer on the horizon, the main topic of conversation – aside from Bordeaux 2010 – is which wines to stock up on. To help wine lovers make an informed choice, Bordeaux Index’s ‘Insider Tips’ for summer 2011 are:
– NV Pol Roger, Champagne at £19 / bottle
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– 2008 Fevre, William Chablis, White Burgundy at £10 / bottle
– 2010 Chateau d’Esclans – Whispering Angle, Rose at £14.50 / bottle
“With prices ranging from £10 to £19 a bottle – these three wines represent extremely good value for money,” said Gary Boom. “They’re a perfect way to enjoy a long, hot summer.
Bordeaux Index reports that first growth Chateau Latour (possibly the most consistent performer of the top tier in the past decade) has teamed up with Christie’s auction house for a sale later on this month in Hong Kong. “Latour has opened its treasure trove of a cellar’s worth of great and very rare vintages direct from the chateau’s caves” said Gary Boom.
“It comes several months after Sothebys combined with Lafite for an identical sale – Lafite’s sale was a roaring success and was the catalyst that saw a seismic shift in first growth pricing as vintages such as 1982, 1996 and 2000 sold at eye watering prices (60% above the market price) including vintages that were not yet in the bottle that sold at treble the market price.”
The big question is will Latour’s sale prove as successful. “The sheer quality of the wine should win the bidders over, but with the market in China just beginning to start moving again after a slower than normal April – is the timing right and is the appetite there for such a high profile sale?”
