Best value wines of Bordeaux 2014

Every year in its annual survey Liv-ex asks its members which wines it expects to be the best value in the latest Bordeaux vintage.

As opposed to the “best” wines of the vintage which one might argue are good value in relative terms, the wines listed here are all good quality and expected to be available for £500 a case or, preferably, less.

For the fifth year in a row it was Grand Puy Lacoste which scooped the top spot and there are a few familiar faces from both sides of the Gironde returning from last year’s list as well as some newcomers.

10. Rauzan Ségla

The Margaux second growth came in at number 10. It released its 2013 for €33 a bottle ex-négociant, a 10% drop on its 2012 price (€36.50), however expect a slight rise back to that 2012 level when it emerges.

Even if it does, its case price should be around the £420 mark and its scores so far have tended to be around the low 90s.

8=Figeac

Returning to the list again, the Right Bank property stuck to its 2012 pricing of €48 per bottle last year which means a case price of £525, somewhat above the benchmark price for this list.

Although it was one of the better wines of 2013 its price was still seen as something of a disappointment and with most properties putting in small increases this year, Figeac may not prove to be such a steal after all.

8=Clerc Milon

In joint eighth place was Clerc Milon which has already released; with an ex-négoce price of €33.60 per bottle and therefore a case offer of £324.

Although it went up very slightly on 2013 (€30 p/b) alongside its 90-odd points (its best since 2010 and second best in the last 10 years) it comes across as somewhat fair – as did most of the releases from the Mouton- Rothschild stable.

7. Beychevelle

Another wine that has already released, a 12% premium on 2013 still couldn’t make it break the £500 mark however.

At €43.20 a bottle its case price is around £387 and offers good value when compared to its back vintages pre 2012. Like Clerc Milon its scores this vintage are among its best since 2010.

6. Talbot

Out today (5 May), Talbot allowed itself a slight increase on its 2013 price, rising 11.4% to €29.40, its first price rise since 2011.

At such a level and having stuck to very consistent pricing over many years Talbot cannot be accused of inconsistency,

Furthermore, although its 2011 and 2012 vintages with the same score of 90 are currently a little cheaper, the 2005 and 2008 which also have 90 points now command prices 74% and 39% above their respective releases.

5. Reserve de la Comtesse

Although Neal Martin warned that for all its good points 2014 is “no 2009” vintage and therefore second wines should be approached with caution, this Pauillac second wine caught the merchants’ collective eyes.

Out at €20.40 p/b in 2012, expect something similar this year.

3=Léoville Poyferré

Another returnee from the 2013 list, Saint Julien was picked out by Martin as one of the better appellations in 2014.

Last year Poyferré cut 11% to €38.40 p/b, which worked out at £344 a case giving it some wiggle room should it choose to go up this year.

3=Domaine de Chevalier Rouge

Tied in third place and holding its position from last year is the red from Domaine de Chevalier. It came out at €27.50 p/b last year, no change on its 2012 release price.

Expect the same again at least and, like Beychevelle or Talbot, probably a slight increase.

2. Calon Ségur

Retaining its second place position from last year, the Saint Estèphe property flew a little close to the wind in 2013.

Only cutting 3% to €37.20 a bottle and £410 a case, if it goes up again this year (extremely likely), it may come close to breaking that £500 barrier.

1. Grand Puy Lacoste

Top for the fifth year in a row, “GPL” has remained below £500 a case in the years it has really mattered such as 2008, 2012 and 2013, last year cutting its prices by 4% to €31.20 a bottle.

With a Martin rating of 93-95-points, this Pauillac should come in at around £300 a case.