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‘There is no market’ for 2013 Bordeaux
There is no demand for 2013 Bordeaux whatsoever, admitted Lilian Barton-Sartorius from Château Léoville Barton, although buyers shouldn’t expect prices to fall for this year’s release.
“There is no market for 2013,” according to Lilian Barton
During a tasting of the 2014 vintage from Châteaux Langoa and Leoville Barton alongside the 2013 harvest, Lilian told the drinks business earlier this month that the market for the latter vintage was “lousy”.
Adding that it was the tradition to always show the previous vintage alongside the current release at Léoville Barton, she then said, “Quite honestly, there is no market for 2013.”
While she reported that she had sold “all the Léoville”, she admitted that the négociants were probably sitting on the stock, adding, “I’m not saying that it is sold right to the end”.
Nevertheless, she also said that buyers shouldn’t expect prices to fall for 2014 Bordeaux.
“Those hopeful people who think that prices will be coming down to 2008 can think again,” she stated, before asking, “Do my staff want to have the salary they had in 2008?”
But, she ruled out the likelihood of even a small price drop for the majority of properties.
“I can’t see anyone coming down in price – 2014 is a better vintage,” she stated.
Furthermore, she said that it was vital for prices to increase among certain estates that aren’t famous cru classé châteaux.
“There are some very good Cru Bourgeois hovering at ridiculously low prices, which, if they don’t come up, won’t survive,” she said. Continuing, she warned, “If they don’t take advantage of this better crop and come up in price by even 50 cents, then they won’t be around in the future.”
Do you want your staff to be employed in the future? There is no market for 2103 Bordeaux and with the arrogance of the owners of the chateaus there will be little to no interest in the 2014’s. The people expressing interest in Bordeaux are old not older but old (late 60’s and up aka last quarter of life aka old). There is alomost no interest in Manhattan for Bordeaux in the younger drinkers as they see no value and frankl;y if it isn’t a petite Chateau there is none.
Instead of writing them a nice letter I encourage the US trade to not let Bordeaux wine makers/owners/reps to even visit. Tell them to leave politely and only to return when the pricing is normalized to pre 2004 levels!
so your theory, madame, is that every year prices go up because expenses rise, because expenses have risen, prices must go up??? please stop the madness.
Hmmm … well UK wages in real terms are down about 2% since 2008 so yeah … perhaps you should consider the number of people you employ and the long term health of your business. If your partners can’t sell the stock they are buying from you thats not in your long term interests.
Before the Americans attack the Bordeaux producers they should look at what has happened to the prices of Napa Valley for wines which are, in the main, unbalanced. The Barton family have always been leaders in price restraint but can’t afford not to follow the market because that’s how their standing is judged.
However, I do think it slightly cynical to sell wine to the negociants and then undermine them by announcing that it is terrible. She should have done that before she sold it.