First growths dominate fine wine survey

For the first time ever, all five Bordeaux first growths have taken first five places in the Liv-ex Power 100 fine wine survey, which ranks brands according to their trade and price performance over the last 12 months, as well as average scores and production.

The table, published in full in December’s drinks business, sees Lafite in first place, followed by Latour, Mouton Rothschild, Margaux and Haut-Brion.

Last year, although Lafite led the chart, Domaine de la Romanée Conti and Pétrus were in the top five, while in 2008, following the Lehmann crash, Krug and Penfolds came above Lafite, which fell to sixth place.

The results confirm the impact of Asian demand on the fine wine market, highlighting in particular the Chinese rich elite’s desire for the very best Bordeaux can provide.

“It’s a new market that looks at the most straightforward way of ranking the wines and the 1855 classification does that,” commented Jack Hibberd, Liv-ex research manager, on the outcome.

“The market is absurdly concentrated on left bank first growths,” added James Miles, director at Liv-ex, pointing out that 61% of trade through the Liv-ex fine wine exchange is in these five wines.

The survey this year also stressed the power of fine wine brand over Parker score when it comes to new Far Eastern consumers, as lookalike second wines from the first growths shot up the chart.

Illustrating this was Pavillon Rouge, second wine of Margaux, which proved 2010’s highest new entry, jumping into the table in 27th place – and the only wine in the top 50 with an average score below 90.

For a full list of all 100 fine wine brands in the Liv-ex Power 100 and nine pages of analysis and comment on the state of the market see December’s drinks business (pages 18-30)

Patrick Schmitt, 16.12.2010