Last week, Liv-ex published the first part of its 2017 classification, looking at wines from the Left Bank of Bordeaux. This is the fifth time that Liv-ex has recreated the classification, following 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015.
The classification ranks wines by price, as the Bordeaux Brokers Union did in 1855. The table below shows how the second wines of great estates – which didn’t exist in 1855 – would rank if they were included today.
This year, all of the First Growths’ second wines held on to their positions as Second Growths. They remain in the same price order as in 2015 and 2013. Many of these wines have experienced dramatic price increases; the average trade price of Carruades Lafite has increased 57% over the last two years. Still, they are some way off breaking into the top category.
Alter Ego Palmer drops out of the Third Growth group, as the lower bracket for Third Growths starts at £438.
Fewer second wines have been included in the classification this year. The updated methodology only includes trades under the Standard in Bond contract to ensure a completely like for like comparison. Otherwise wines such as Dame Montrose and Pagodes Cos would have been included.
*The average Liv-ex trade price is calculated using actual trades on Liv-ex from 30/04/2016 to 01/05/2017. To warrant a classification, at least five vintages of a wine must have traded in the period. The average Liv-ex trade price is expressed for a 12x75cl unit in GBP and is volume weighted.
For the Right Bank, and Rest of the World classifications, check back on Tuesday and Thursday. You can subscribe below to keep up-to-date on Liv-ex analysis.
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