Lafite regains Liv-ex classification crown

Lafite has regained its crown as king of the Left Bank after losing out to Latour in 2009, according to Liv-ex’s own classification of the region, based, like that of 1855, on current prices.

This year’s Liv-ex classification saw Lafite rise back to the top spot with an average price of £11,043 a case ahead of Latour’s £8,120.

La Mission Haut-Brion retains its first growth status that it gained in 2009 but is only just the right side of the price bracket at £3,400 a case, with the cut off at £3,300.

Meanwhile, Duhart-Milon, Beychevelle and Pontet-Canet rose up to join the second growths and Léoville-Barton slipped to third growth status. The rise of the first three was attributed to the huge increase in Asian trade that has occurred since 2009 and the popularity of those estates over there.

Updated every two years, the wines included in the classification must be Left Bank with a minimum production of 2,000 cases.

Taking the average case price, excluding duty and sales tax, for the past five years – 2005-2009 – Liv-ex then splits the wine into five price bands to determine its rankings; as was done way back in 1855.

Other good risers in the Liv-ex classification when compared to 1855 are Clerc Milon and Lynch Bages.

Classed as a fifth growth in 1855, Lynch Bages has risen 38 places in the rankings to second growth status with an average price of £931 a case as of 30 April 2011.

Clerc Milon, meanwhile, has risen 33 places, also taking it out of fifth growth to third growth status and an average price of £422 a case.

Although the list does not rank second wines it is very interesting to note that if they were to be included, 13 overall would be on the list with Carruades de Lafite listed as a first growth and Pavillon Rouge, Petit Mouton and Clarence Haut-Brion as seconds. Forts de Latour would be the highest second growth on the list.

This result shows how attractive the second wines have become for investment or as an “affordable taste” of the châteaux, helped no doubt by more care and attention put into their production by the estates.

Rupert Millar, 26.05.2011