Left Bank leads way for Bordeaux market

Sixteen of the 20 wines in the Left Bank 200 have made gains since the market’s low point in July 2014. Is that a good sign for the broader Bordeaux market? asks Liv-ex.

As was noted in February of this year, the Left Bank 200* – a sub-index of the Bordeaux 500 – has been the best performing sub-index since the nadir of the market in 2014.

The Left Bank index, which tracks the movement of wines such as Montrose, Lynch Bages and La Mission Haut-Brion, has risen 4.8% since then, out-performing and propping up the Bordeaux index as a whole which has only risen 2.4%.

Othe sub-indices such as the Fine Wine 50** and Right Bank 100 have also risen although the Sauternes 50 continues to list, dropping 7.2% since July ’14.

As Liv-ex explained on its blog, the second, third, fourth and fifth growths on the left Bank are popular because they are “available in high volumes and at relatively accessible prices.”

Back in February, Haut Bailly was ahead of the pack in terms of performance and so it has remained.

Other top performers in the last 15 months include Beychevelle, La Mission, Lynch Bages, Pichon Lalande and Léoville Las Cases.

The four to see a negative performance are Léovilles Barton and Poyferré, Gruaud Larose and Lagrange St Julien – which is the only estate to have declined significantly.

The success of these wines is also evidence that while the fine wine market has broadened away from Bordeaux it has also begun to embrace new labels within Bordeaux itself.

*The Left Bank 200 tracks the 10 most recent physical vintages from 20 Left Bank estates.

**Tracks the first growths.