Champagne proving a sparkling investment

A flurry of new releases has seen Champagne put in a strong performance on Liv-ex this year, buoyed by the likes of Dom Pérignon, Pol Roger and Cristal.

Champagne has accounted for 6.1% of trade on Liv-ex so far this year, up from 2.8% in 2014. The activity on the wine exchange has been driven by a healthy number of new releases, including Dom Perigonon 2006, Pol Roger 2004 and Cristal 2007.

Former Wine Advocate critic Antonio Galloni scored Cristal 2007 97+ points in July, describing it as “without question one of the very finest releases of the year”.

Produced in large quantities, Champagne prices plateau when the wine enters the market but rise again after several years as the fizz becomes scarce.

With its high score, at £1,040 a case, Cristal 2007 is currently cheaper than all other vintages of the sparkler on the market, so may prove an attractive investment for Champagne lovers given that it’s value is likely to rise in time.

Dom Pérignon’s chef de cave, Richard Geoffroy, defended multiple vintage Champagne releases at the launch of DP 2006 in London last month.

“There is more latitude in playing the vintage game than ever. Some people might think we’re playing it safe via the status of the brand but every vintage has its story. In an ideal world I’d make a vintage wine every year.

“There’s a debate in Champagne about reserving vintage releases for the best years but there shouldn’t be any artificial limitations put on it,” he said.

“The first half of the last decade was fantastic – we should witness how remarkable those vintages were. When the quality is that spectacular you have to put the wines forward for release,” he added.

Geoffroy believes it is now normal now to release seven to eight vintages per decade.