Wine industry insiders name their value picks.
If you are one of the few interested in buying 2013 Bordeaux en
primeur and want value for money, look to Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Calon-Ségur
and Domaine de Chevalier.
That’s the word from wine merchants and négociants across Europe and
Asia. A merchant survey published by fine wine trading platform Liv-ex
this week suggested that these wines will offer the most bang for your
buck (expected release price of less than 500 pounds).
Respondents were also impressed with Pauillac's Château Batailley,
as was James Suckling, who awarded it a 91-92 in-barrel score. It is
the only estate in the best value top five yet to hit the market: a
bottle can be picked up for a relatively affordable $37 a bottle on
Wine-Searcher, excluding taxes.
Best value for money wines in 2013*:
Château Suckling score Spectator score
1. Grand-Puy-Lacoste
89-90
89-92
2. Calon-Ségur
89-90
89-92
3. Domaine de Chevalier
91-92
88-91
4. Batailley
91-92
n/a
=5. La Chenade
89-90
85-88
=5. Léoville Barton
91-92
90-93
However, this is not going to be an easy year for Bordeaux
châteaux, négociants and merchants, with 78 percent of those surveyed
saying the level of demand will be significantly lower than last year.
“A few respondents reported no demand at all at present and possibly
none to come,” the report revealed.
And that's due to mediocre wine quality. "Weak, disappointing and
lacking personality" were commonly used by those who attended the en
primeur tastings, noted Liv-ex. Similarly, wine critic, Antonio Galloni,
who is due to release the first of his scores today, has labeled it "an
average vintage with a handful or two of outstanding wines".
This week's major releases (GBP/USD per 12-bottle case, excl. duty and sales tax.)
Pichon Baron: 600/1006
Lynch Bages: 550/922
Montrose: 630/1057
Beychevelle: 475/797
Ormes de Pez: 175/293
Source: BBR, Corney & Barrow
* According to Liv-ex Bordeaux 2013 Survey
Respondents were also impressed with Pauillac's Château Batailley, as was James Suckling, who awarded it a 91-92 in-barrel score. It is the only estate in the best value top five yet to hit the market: a bottle can be picked up for a relatively affordable $37 a bottle on Wine-Searcher, excluding taxes.
Best value for money wines in 2013*:
| Château | Suckling score | Spectator score |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Grand-Puy-Lacoste | 89-90 | 89-92 |
| 2. Calon-Ségur | 89-90 | 89-92 |
| 3. Domaine de Chevalier | 91-92 | 88-91 |
| 4. Batailley | 91-92 | n/a |
| =5. La Chenade | 89-90 | 85-88 |
| =5. Léoville Barton | 91-92 | 90-93 |
However, this is not going to be an easy year for Bordeaux châteaux, négociants and merchants, with 78 percent of those surveyed saying the level of demand will be significantly lower than last year. “A few respondents reported no demand at all at present and possibly none to come,” the report revealed.
And that's due to mediocre wine quality. "Weak, disappointing and lacking personality" were commonly used by those who attended the en primeur tastings, noted Liv-ex. Similarly, wine critic, Antonio Galloni, who is due to release the first of his scores today, has labeled it "an average vintage with a handful or two of outstanding wines".
This week's major releases (GBP/USD per 12-bottle case, excl. duty and sales tax.)
| Pichon Baron: 600/1006 |
| Lynch Bages: 550/922 |
| Montrose: 630/1057 |
| Beychevelle: 475/797 |
| Ormes de Pez: 175/293 |
Source: BBR, Corney & Barrow
* According to Liv-ex Bordeaux 2013 Survey
