Every Friday, we take a look at activity on the fine wine market in our weekly ‘Talking Trade’ post. Highlights from the past week include:
- Champagne trade share declines despite three wines featured among the most active this week.
- Bordeaux holds a 50% share of total trade by value, up from 40.1% last week.
- Liv-ex published its June Market report along with analysis of the Liv-ex 100 and Liv-ex 1000 indices.
Regional trade in the past week
The ongoing En Primeur campaign is now in full swing, with a flurry of releases coming in. Bordeaux’s share of trade by value has increased this week, accounting for 50.2% compared to the previous week when it was 40.1%.
Despite having three wines among the top-traded by value this week (see more below), Champagne’s trade share has declined to 12.5% compared to last week’s 19.2%. This movement implies that while there is demand for wines from the region, buyers are looking for opportunities at the right price.
The USA observed a small increase in trade, rising from 2.5% to 3.5% this week with labels such as Harlan Estate 2018 and Screaming Eagle 2020 among the top-traded wines from the region. The Rhône and the ‘Others’ category also saw a rise in their trade shares, while those of Burgundy, Tuscany and Piedmont decreased.
This week’s top-traded wines
As mentioned earlier, three of the most active wines this week were from the Champagne region: Dom Pérignon 2013, Louis Roederer Cristal 2008 and Dom Pérignon Rosé 2008.
Interestingly, Dom Pérignon 2013 has experienced a drop in its Market Price since May. However, it remains the top-traded wine by value on Liv-ex since its release in January, with its current Market Price of £1,800 per 12×75 slightly lower than its release price (£1,830 per case).
Therefore, there seems to be considerable demand for this wine, albeit at the right price point, presenting an opportunity for both buyers and sellers to benefit. Buyers can leverage the current market conditions to secure this vintage at a more favourable price, whilst sellers can capitalise on the existing demand by strategically adjusting their pricing to attract buyers. The presence of Cristal 2008 and Dom Pérignon Rosé 2008 in the top 5 wines traded this week further highlights the current interest in the region. Dom Pérignon 2013 trades on Liv-ex
Dom Pérignon 2013 trades on Liv-ex
Apart from Champagne, at the top of the top-traded wines list is Domaine Ponsot, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 2020, with a score of 96 points from Neal Martin.
Additionally, Château Lafite 2017, has made its mark in the top-traded wines this week. It was awarded 95 points from Neal Martin (Vinous) and is available at a Market Price of £6,500 per 12×75, an increase from its release price of £4,870 per 12×75.
En Primeur campaign gains momentum
As mentioned, the pace of En Primeur releases has picked up this week. The following wines covered by Liv-ex have been released, with the percent change Year-on-Year indicated in parentheses:
| Ex-Negociant | Release Pricing | |
| Château Ausone | €565 per bottle (+13%) | £6,800 per 12×75 (+13.3%) |
| Château Haut-Batailley | €43.20 per bottle (+9.1%) | £500 per 12×75 (+6.4%) |
| Château La Lagune | €34 per bottle (+25.9%) | £432 per 12×75 (+35%) |
| Château Palmer | €295 per bottle (+22.9%) | £3,576 per 12×75 (+25.7%) |
| Château Lagrange | €39.60 per bottle (+16.5%) | £474 per 12×75 (+17.0%) |
| Château La Gaffelière | €56 per bottle (+16.7%) | £684 per 12×75 (+18.8%) |
| Château Malartic-Lagravière | €33.60 per bottle (+16.7%) | £408 per 12×75 (+18.6%) |
| Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion | €108 per bottle (+34.3%) | £1,320 per 12×75 (+39.2%) |
| Château d’Armailhac | €39.60 per bottle (+22.2%) | £484 per 12×75 (+23.8%) |
| Château Saint-Pierre | €45.60 per bottle (+18.8%) | £550 per 12×75 (+19.6%) |
| Château Gloria | €31.20 per bottle (+18.0%) | £376 per 12×75 (+20.0%) |
| Château Haut-Bages Libéral | €32.50 per bottle (+23.1%) | £402 per 12×75 (+24.1%) |
| Pichon Comtesse Réserve | €36 per bottle (+9.8%) | £432 per 12×75 (+7.5%) |
| Château Malescot St. Exupéry | €45 per bottle (+21.0%) | £540 per 12×75 (+21.6%) |
| Château Pichon Comtesse | €170 per bottle (+28.8%) | £2,046 per 12×75 (+27.2%) |
| Château Gazin | €66 per bottle (+19.6%) | £794 per 12×75 (+20.3%) |
| Château Pavie Macquin | €67.20 per bottle (+16.7%) | £809 per 12×75 (+17.9%) |
| Château Cantenac Brown | €40.20 per bottle (+17.5%) | £486 per 12×75 (+18.5%) |
| Château Giscours | €50 per bottle (+22.5%) | £600 per 12×75 (+23.4%) |
| Château Beau-Séjour Bécot | €57 per bottle | £708 per 12×75 (+37.2%) |
| Château Rauzan-Ségla | €84 per bottle (+40%) | £1,010 per 12×75 (+40.3%) |
Weekly insights recap
This week, Liv-ex published analysis about the Liv-ex 100 falling a further 2.0% in May as well as the Liv-ex 1000 recoding its biggest fall so far this year. Our June Market Report is now also available to members on Silver+ packages.
Not yet a member of Liv-ex? Request a demo to see the exchange and a member of our team will be in touch with you shortly.
Liv-ex analysis is drawn from the world’s most comprehensive database of fine wine prices. The data reflects the real-time activity of Liv-ex’s 620+ merchant members from across the globe. Together they represent the largest pool of liquidity in the world – currently £100m of bids and offers across 16,000 wines.
