Rise for Haut Bailly in Liv-ex 2015 classification

Liv-ex’s bi-annual “re-classification” of Bordeaux saw Haut Bailly leap into “second growth” territory while a number of “fourth growths” are now thirds.

The reclassification started in 2009 and like the original 1855 classification, ranks the Left Bank estates by price to give an impression of their current status – though their actual “cru” rating remains unchanged.

To work out the ranking, Liv-ex calculates the average case price (in-bond) of each estate from the past five vintages (2009-2013 in this case).

The estates are then divided by price band – just as they were in 1855. The bands are:

• First growth: £2,000+
• Second growth: £550 to £1,999
• Third growth: £350 to £549
• Fourth growth: £250 to £349
• Fifth growth: £200 to £249

Not much has changed between the last classification in 2013 and the latest one although most noticeable is the tumbling price of Bordeaux with the average price per case falling 18% – with Lafite the biggest loser overall, average prices tumbling 41% in the last two years.

Latour remains atop the chart and despite a 32% decline in price La Mission Haut-Brion remains in the “first growth” band with an average price of £2,252 p/cs.

Haut Bailly was one of the risers, jumping two places from 20^th in 2013 to 18^th and with a decline of just 1% in its average case price from £672 to £677. It is now in “second growth” territory.

Meanwhile, six estates have moved from “fourth” to “third” growth status: Gruaud Larose, Malescot-St-Exupery, Grand Puy Lacoste, Brane Cantenac, Clerc Milon and Domaine Chevalier.

Batailley was the biggest riser of all going from fifth to fourth growth status with a leap from 52^nd to 41^st place on the list.

Liv-ex will release the details of its Right Bank classification later this week.