Fine wine runs steady in January

The Liv-ex Fine Wine 100 and 1000 indices ran roughly steady in January, the 100 down 0.1% and broader 1000 up 0.2% in a becalmed start to the year.

The Fine Wine 100’s minor downturn was nonetheless the second consecutive month of cooling, following a 0.1% dip in December last year as well.

Bordeaux dominated the list of best-performing labels with Cheval Blanc 2006, Mouton Rothschild 2000, Montrose 2010 and Cos d’Estournel 2003 all up, as was Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s 2012 La Tâche.

Labels on the downturn were a bit more mixed and included many of the top risers from previous months as is often the case.

They were: Armand Rousseau’s 2012 Chambertin, 2009 La Mission Haut-Brion, 2009 Cristal, the 2009 Cos d’Estournel and 2012 ‘Hommage’ from Beaucastel.

No riser or faller, however, exceeded much over 4% in either direction – the 2009 Cos and 2012 Beaucastel down 4.3% and Cheval Blanc up 4.1%.

Over on the Fine Wine 1000, which covers a much broader span of the secondary market meanwhile, there was good news for Bordeaux in the shape of the Bordeaux Legends 50, Bordeaux 500 and Fine Wine 50 (the first growth tracker) all moving up 2.5%, 0.4% and 0.3% respectively.

The Champagne 50 was also a strong performer in January, rising 1.3% and the Rhône 100 inched up 0.3%.

The Italy 100 and Burgundy 150 meanwhile, two of the most robust indices last year, suffered in January – the Italy 100 dipping 1.5% and the Burgundy 150 1.1%.

A minor blip – perhaps – if the pattern of last year is repeated to any degree.