Right Bank is best performing Bordeaux over 2012

Liv-ex’s Right Bank 100 was the strongest performer on the Bordeaux 500 index over the course of 2012.

photo credit: The Wine Cellar Insider

As was noted towards the end of last year, the Right Bank was one of the few regions in Bordeaux to hold its value in 2012 as other high-flyers – notably the first growths’ second wines – experienced more severe slumps.

Overall, the Right Bank 100 rose 4.6% over 2012, while its sister the Right Bank 50 clawed its way out of a dip in July to end the year on a more modest -3.2%.

This compared to more drastic dips of 15.6% and 9.6% suffered by the Second Wine 50 and First Wine 50 respectively.

Also boosting the Right Bank’s image is the fact that the Right Bank 100 has posted a five year increase of 67.4%, the second highest riser behind the second wines, which have rose 146.9% in the last five years but whose star has somewhat dimmed since then.

As a whole, despite some dramatic looking graphs that can be seen on Liv-ex’s blog here, the index as a whole suffered the smallest drop of any of the main indices in 2012, finishing the year down 5.1%.

Furthermore, all of the individual indices within the Bordeaux 500 ran more or less flat for the last four months before posting “comprehensive” rises in December.

Commenting on the year, Liv-ex’s director, James Miles, said: “Although this was a difficult year for the fine wine market, the Liv-ex indices have finished 2012 on a positive note. Since the lows of July, the value of bids on the Exchange has increased threefold, suggesting a return of confidence.”

The year was also marked by positive performances for Champagne, Burgundy and Italian wines. Champagne was boosted by releases of highly anticipated vintages, notably 2002, which doubled the region’s average turnover.

Meanwhile, the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti index hit a 10 year high in May, while the Super Tuscan index ended 2012 up 0.4%, dominated by trade in Sassicaia 2009.