The ups and downs of Mouton Rothschild

It has been something of a see-saw year for the last two vintages of Mouton Rothschild, with one on the up and the other struggling in the charts.

The latest Liv-ex market report for 2010 shows that while the 2008 vintage is going from strength to strength due to its Chinese-designed label, 2009 is the poorest performer of the vintage.

Among the first growths, their second wines and other labels popular on the Asian market, the 2008 Mouton was the biggest market mover from October to November, jumping an enormous 85.7% from £4,254 a case to £7,898.

This rise was undoubtedly due to the speculation and subsequent confirmation that Chinese artist Xu Lei had been commissioned to design the vintage’s label.

Over the year the wine has appreciated by 192.5% having started at £2,700 a case. Lafite was the biggest mover over the course of the year, with its 2008 offering rising by 315.1%.

Meanwhile, on the sliding scale of the region’s top wines, it becomes clear that a good many have been unable to maintain their release prices.

Since June, Mouton Rothschild, Branaire-Ducru and Haut-Brion have seen their initial prices fall by 12% and 11% for the latter two respectively.

First released at £7,800 a case, 2009 Mouton was later offered at £6,800 a case on the Liv-ex platform.

On the other hand Lafite has continued to rise with a 26% increase followed by Pontet-Canet and Lynch-Bages on 24%.

The chart excludes Duhart-Milon and the first growths’ second wines, which all comfortably outstripped the rest with an average increase of 49% in price since their release.

Jack Hibberd, research manager at Liv-ex wrote for the drinks business about the rise of the second wines in November’s Fine Wine Monitor.

Rupert Millar, 09.12.2010