Bordeaux 2014: expectation and reality

The latest en primeur campaign was over 5% more expensive than international merchants predicted according to Liv-ex.

As it does every year the fine wine marketplace challenged its 440 members to predict the ex-négociant bottle prices for a “shopping basket” of 10 wines including Montrose, Cheval Blanc and Pichon Lalande.

The merchants’ final “basket” amounted to €1,285.40 but the final tab was actually €1,354.50, 5.4% more expensive than the merchants predicted (hoped) it would be.

The most accurately predicted was Pavie, while Cos d’Estournel and Mouton Rothschild had slightly lower prices than was predicted.

The biggest upset was the price of Montrose which at €88.8 p/b was 41.6% more expensive than the predicted €62.70 (in real terms it was 54% more expensive than its 2013 release price).

At €96 p/b ex-négoce Léoville Las Cases was also 13.6% more expensive than the €84.50 that was predicted.

The (unnamed) winner’s prediction was out by just €3.9 and they have been rewarded with a magnum of François Lamarche, Vosne-Romanée Malconsorts 2009.