Bordeaux 2014: Enter stage right

After a campaign dominated by Left Bank properties so far, this morning saw three notable Right Bank properties step onto the stage.

Clos Fourtet, Conseillante and Figeac were the Saint Emilion and Pomerol big names to throw their hats into the ring with price increases ranging from 14.7% to 25%.

Clos Fourtet came out at €50.5 per bottle ex-négociant, an increase of 14.7% on its 2013 release price (€44). At £490 a case it is the fourth cheapest on the market and it has a fairly average score from Neal Martin (90-92).

The 2012 is perhaps a more attractive deal, being £40 or so cheaper per case and it recently received 95-points from Robert Parker.

Next up with a 25% price hike to €60 p/b is Figeac. At £575 per case it looks quite tempting, even more so given that its score is roughly that of the 2005 which is currently 65% more expensive per case.

However, as Liv-ex pointed out, merchants in the annual survey voted Figeac into eighth place alongside Clerc Milon as potentially one of the best value wines this year.

As Liv-ex continued: “However with this category defined as ‘wines expected to be released at under £500 per case’, merchants appear to have expected a lower release.”

Finally, La Conseillante rose 15.8% on its 2013 price and is the most expensive of the trio at €66 p/b.

Four vintages from the last 10 are cheaper per case (2004, 2007, 2011 and 2013) but all have much lower scores. The 2012 is more expensive (just over £800 p/cs) but has the same score as the 2005, 2009 and 2010 and is much cheaper.

Ultimately, these are three of the top Right Bank estates with solid scores and a good buying base. There’s no doubt they’ll sell but it’s unlikely they’ll rank highly on merchants’ “best sellers” list this campaign.

Exit, pursued by a bear.