Leader’s Comment

For a brief but valuable insight into today’s prestige wine market, view these mini-clips from influential wine industry figures:


Emilie Gervoson of Chateau Larrivet Haut Brion highlights the importance of nuturing an international client


Chateau Palmer’s CEO Thomas Duroux talks of consumer volumes moving well above production capacity

News

23rd Mar 2020
Its with regret that our wine events programme is temporarily on hold as we, and the hospitality industry in general, adjust to the measures rightly requested by government to adopt social distancing policies.

3rd Dec 2019
We're in the right month to mention that First Growth Bordeaux continues to set standards for its enjoyable wine tasting service, as clients move to the more entertaining aspects of the commodity. Collecting wine for purposes of speculating on their values remains an exercise too unpredictable for yet another year and has been less of a focus for many. Faced with persistent political and economic headwinds, all three of the main wine indices dipped in 2019. The downward movements were not sharp, however; the Liv-ex 50 which tracks the performance of the First Growths, suffered the most (-3.6%), while the industry benchmark 100, fell 2.5%.

3rd May 2018
Summer tastings begin for South East clients as the French release pricing strategy - and it is still a dampener for the energy of the Primeur market. It can no longer be good strategy to buy barrel wine at extortionate prices, ...the Chinese have long since changed their appetites.

10th January 18
There was an enjoyable build up to Christmas as we discovered new regions at our hosted events. For wine collectors, latter 2017 showed some further gains but anticipation is some stabilising of prices. Weak pound influenced by Brexit has no doubt helped UK wine trade but is now factored into price levels. Anticipating a tough year ahead at top end of Bdx pricing.

3rd April 17
Prices stabilise across Q1 following rises in second half of 2016. The early reports that suggest a strong 2016 Bdx vintage could be rubber stamped at April Primeur tastings.

End 2016 summary
Slow trading to end of Q2. Then the BREXIT shock and resultant Sterling weakness gave incentive to overseas buyers, with particular demand from the US fueling some price growth to end of year.

5th June 15
Italian wine gaining more share of fine wine market; Sassicaia 2009 with 4.4% share alone.

18th May 15
Mr Vine, the free UK wine app for buying classy everyday wine for door delivery, is now live on the app store - its getting an amazing reaction across the wine trade!

7th May 15
Election day. Will we end up with a 7 Party coalition?!

29th Apr 15
Bordeaux En Primeur release well underway for the 2014 vintage; some reasonable start-pricing by the French sellers but a further cut of circa 5% to 10% was what the trade wished for.. C'est pas formidable!

4th Feb 15
Wine prices struggle but hints of an upturn in demand as buying for Chinese NY influences market

10th Dec 14
Low fine wine demand and the growth in more discerning international buyers has seen a year of price falls

6th Sept 13
Warwick Ross & David Roach’s entertaining Film/documentary ‘Red Obsession’ opens in New York today: covering Chinese Billionaires’ insatiable demand for the world’s most expensive wines

12th Jul 13
A six-litre Methuselah of Romanee-Conti 1989 DRC will go into Sotheby's Hong Kong auction this September with an upper estimate of HK$800,000!

30th May 13
2013 late BDX crop development could point to delayed harvest.. another tricky vintage? Far too early to call..

19th May 13
After a softer 2012, wine prices recover with 5.9 pc this year as gold bullion slid 17 pc

15th May 13
Q1 buying spree halted by 2012 release, June set for gains on cased stocks

11th Dec 12
Robert Parker sells significant stake in Wine Advocate and steps down as Editor, with new editorial focus for Far East

6th Dec 12
Hong Kong's King Power Group buys Bordeaux property Chateau Bernadotte from Champagne heavyweight Louis Roederer

24th Nov 12
Good luck to Aymeric de Gironde, former AXA Millesimes commercial director who takes over from Monsieur Prats at Cos today

16th Nov 12
Touch Invest (New York) appoints First Growth Bordeaux as commentator on wine portfolio trading; visit www.touchinvest.com

11th Sept 12
Wine market firms up: Christies Hong Kong - auction season starts with 100% of reserve prices hit

7th Sept 12
New St Emilion Classification: Pavie and Angelus are portfolio tips as they join Ausone and Cheval Blanc as Premier Cru 'A' Chateaux

21st June 12
Pichon Baron one to watch having outperfomed the Left Bank average Jun11-Jun12 (liv-ex)

25th May 12
London International Wine Fair's star stand: "Wines of Chile"

18th May 12
Pontet Canet demand most popular for BDX 2011 releases

26th April 12
2011 En Primeurs all release above 2008 prices

23rd April 12
Lafite's 2011 marked down, UK average price £5400

20th April 12
Buying activity on cased Latours increases

19th April 12
Latour's 2012 vintage will be last sold En Primeur!

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