Wine Spectator: Bordeaux First-Growths Begin To Release 2013s, But Interest Still Low

The 2013 Bordeaux futures campaign picked up speed late last week when first-growths Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Mouton-Rothschild entered the market with their 2013 releases. Mouton released at $298.75 per bottle, ex-négociant, while Lafite released at $398.33. Négociants report those wines are selling, but they have failed to ignite a more widespread enthusiasm for 2013 futures.

Mouton’s price is a 10% drop on its 2012, and makes 2013 the least expensive vintage widely available on the market. “To repeat what the négociants have been telling us, it was an ‘intelligent’ price,” Mouton-Rothschild CEO Philippe Dhalluin told Wine Spectator.“This is not a speculative vintage. Our objective was to set prices to sell not just to our négociant clients, but for them to then sell to their clients—importers and retailers—and then on to the final clients.” The volume, however, was small. “This was the smallest yield of Mouton in 45 years,” said Dhalluin. The estate released its second wine, Petit Mouton, at $91.28, the same as the 2012. Petit Mouton has enjoyed a surge in popularity recently, and its value has regularly increased following its en primeur release.

Lafite’s price, a 14% drop on the 2012, drew a little less enthusiasm. “The market expected a better price, but it’s still the least expensive vintage of Lafite on the market,” said négociant Philippe Larché of Vintex. Other releases this week, compared to their 2012 en primeur prices, include: Palmer at $207.47 (-6%), Cos-d’Estournel at $112.72 (-8.4%), Haut-Bailly at $54.77 (-6%), Calon Segur at $51.45 (-3%), Canon at $45.64 (-10%), Rauzan Segla at $45.64 (-9.5%), Kirwan at $29.74 (-4%), Doisy Daene at $36.51 (0%), Lagrange at $31.53 (-5%) and Cantemerle at $23.37 (-5%).

Tagged : Bordeaux, wine, Wine Spectator

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