This week, Bordeaux maintained its leading position in the global fine wine market, accounting for 37.9% of the traded value. While this figure is slightly down from last week’s 39.1%, Bordeaux's dominance remains intact, bolstered by strong trades from some of the region's most prestigious labels.
Notably, Château La Mission Haut-Brion joined First Growth titans Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild, and Château Latour among the top-traded Bordeaux wines, highlighting the continued demand for high-quality, time-proven vintages.
Meanwhile, Burgundy saw an uptick in market share, closing at 19.2%, an increase from last week’s 15.7%. Leading the charge for Burgundy was Domaine du Comte Liger Belair’s Echezeaux Grand Cru 2008, followed closely by Louis Latour’s Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru Les Quatre Journaux 2008. Burgundy’s consistent appeal continues to captivate collectors and investors alike, with Grand Cru offerings playing a pivotal role in its rising value.
Tuscany continued its strong performance, once again overtaking Champagne in third place in terms of trade volume. Super Tuscan icons like Tignanello 2012 and Sassicaia 2021 commanded significant interest. Additionally, three Brunello di Montalcino wines—Argiano 2018, Biondi-Santi Riserva 2016, and Valdicava 2013—were among Tuscany’s top five traded wines by value. This demonstrates the growing appreciation for both Super Tuscans and traditional Brunello wines, making Tuscany one of the most active regions in the market.
Champagne experienced a recovery, climbing from last week’s 8.6% share to 11.5%. Some of the region’s most prestigious labels, such as Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blanc, Dom Pérignon, and Salon Le Mesnil, were among the most actively traded wines, reinforcing Champagne’s resilience and appeal to both collectors and connoisseurs.
Piedmont also saw growth, with its trade share increasing from 5.4% to 6.0%. Barolos led the activity, particularly lesser-known yet highly respected producers like Lorenzo Accomasso, Poderi Luigi Einaudi, and Giovanni Canonica. The region’s performance highlights its steady growth and the increasing interest in Italy’s most prestigious wines beyond Tuscany.
In the USA, Opus One was the star performer, accounting for nearly half of the region's trade with a 48.4% share. This surge underlines Opus One’s global recognition and consistent appeal to collectors.
However, not all regions experienced positive trends. Spain and the Rhône saw declines in their trade shares, with Spain dropping from 2.6% to 0.9% and the Rhône falling from 2.8% to 1.6%. This suggests a slight shift in demand away from these regions in favor of other, more dynamic categories.
Among individual wines, Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2015 emerged as the top-traded wine by value. Trading at 8% below its initial ex-château release price of EUR 250, and 23.2% below its ex-négociant price of EUR 300, it remains a strong performer, especially given its impressive critical acclaim, including 98 points from Neal Martin and 19/20 from Jancis Robinson. This vintage has just entered its prime drinking window, which may explain its elevated trade volume.
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2013 followed as the second top-traded wine by both value and volume, with high demand pushing prices 6.0% above its market value. Its prestige and scarcity have contributed to sustained interest among investors.
In third place was Château Latour 2005, trading between GBP 6,000 (EUR 6,940) and GBP 6,200 (EUR 7,175). These prices are nearing the lows seen in 2020, and the recent uptick in trading activity may indicate that prices for this wine are bottoming out, potentially positioning it for future growth.
Finally, Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 2018 was the top-traded wine by volume and the fourth by value. Despite trading at around GBP 470 (EUR 540) per 12×75, its lowest-ever traded price, it remains well above its ex-London release price of GBP 330 (EUR 381). Named Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator in late 2023, the wine experienced a surge in trade, though activity has slowed in 2024.
In summary, while Bordeaux continues to dominate the market, other regions such as Burgundy, Tuscany, and Champagne are proving formidable challengers, each carving out a substantial share of trade through a mix of heritage, innovation, and consistent quality. As the market evolves, fine wine continues to offer a diverse range of opportunities for collectors and investors alike.
Source: Liv-ex