Small September gains for fine wine

The Liv-ex Fine Wine 100 index has gained again in September, up 1.59%, which makes 10 consecutive months of rises.

The index, which tracks the 100 most frequently traded fine wine labels, is up 18% on the year-to-date and at its highest point since April 2012. Even if the gains are not as big as some of those seen in recent months, it marks yet further improvement in the state and health of the secondary market.

All the month’s best and worst performing labels were from Bordeaux and Burgundy, both are categories which have been the driving forces behind fine wine of late.

Two of the more ‘affordable’ 100-point clarets from the 2009 vintage, Smith Haut Lafitte and Haut Bailly rose the furthest last month, up 14.3% and 13.2% respectively.

The two wines are among 30 with 100-points from Robert Parker below £5,000 a case and indeed these two in particular are under £2,000, the Smith Haut Lafitte is now up to a mid-price of £1,879 and the Haut Bailly to £1,692.

Also up were Comte de Vogüé’s 2012 Vieilles Vignes Musigny, Armand Rousseau’s 2010 Chambertin and Petrus 2010.

Several Right Bank claret labels took a step backwards in September among them Pavie 2005, Cheval Blanc 2006 and Petrus 2009 which fell the furthest at 3.3%.

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s La Tâche 2012 declined 2.8% and Latour’s 2010 also experienced a small tumble of 2.4%.