Cheval Blanc leads today’s flurry of 2019 releases

Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A estate, Cheval Blanc, led today’s flurry of Bordeaux 2019 releases with a 30% price drop on its 2018 release price.

Cheval Blanc’s 2019 release price is down 30% on 2018

As reported by Liv-ex, Cheval Blanc 2019 was released today at €370 per bottle ex-negociant, down a significant 29.9% on the 2018 release priced of €528.

The wine is being offered by the international trade at £4,500 per case, a drop of 31.7% on the 2018 case price of £6,588.

According to Liv-ex, volumes released of Cheval Blanc’s grand vin are down by around 30%. The Right Bank wine received 98 points from Jean-Marc Quarin. Petit Cheval was also released today and is being offered at £1,500 per case.

Also out of the blocks this morning was fellow Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A estate, Angelus, though its release price showed a less dramatic drop on 2018 than Cheval Blanc.

Liv-ex reports that Angelus 2019 was released this morning at €230 per bottle ex-negociant, down 8.7% on the 2018 release price of €252.

The wine has an RRP of £2,844 per case, down 7% on the 2018 release price of £3,060. American critic James Suckling is a fan of the wine, giving it 98-99 points and describing it as, “extremely refined, supple and sharpened”.

According to Liv-ex, the price of Angelus 2019 puts it above a number of previous vintages that are currently available on the market.

The highly regarded 2010 vintage, which was given 99+ points by Robert Parker in 2015, is currently available at a very small premium to Angelus 2019.

The estate’s second wine, Carillon d’Angelus, was released today at €60 per bottle ex-negociant, down 23% on the 2018 release price of €78.

Also releasing its 2019 vintage this morning was Saint-Julien fourth growth, Beychevelle, at €52.8 per bottle ex-negociant, down 12% on the 2018 release price of €60.

As reported by Liv-ex, volumes of the wine are down by 17% this year and allocations are strict.

Beychevelle 2019 is being offered by the international trade at £657.6 per case, down 8.7% on last year’s release price of £720 per case, making it the best-value Beychevelle currently on the market.

Sucking described the 2019 vintage a being, “layered red with lots of ripe fruit and creamy, round tannins” and believes it to be “equal to 2018 in quality”.

Rounding off the morning’s 2019 releases was fellow Saint-Julien fourth growth Branaire Ducru, which released at €28.2 per bottle ex négociant, down 26.6% on the 2018 release price of €38.4.

As reported by Liv-ex, the wine is being offered at £348 per case, a drop of 25% on the 2018 release price of £462.

Liv-ex reports Branaire Ducru 2019 to be of similar quality to 2009 and 2010, but at a 45% and 40% discount.