Montrose and Ausone follow 2019 discount trend

Two highly regarded Bordeaux estates – Montrose and Ausone – have followed the trend for 2019 discounts, dropping the release prices of their 2019 grand vins by 24% and 26% respectively.

As reported by Liv-ex, Saint-Estèphe second growth, Château Montrose, released its 2019 vintage at €96 per bottle ex-négociant yesterday, a 24.1% drop on the 2018 release price of €126.4.

The wine, which was given 98 points by Jane Anson, who described it as a masterclass in the flavours and aromatics you expect in a great Medoc wine”, is being offered at £1,204 per case, a 22.8% dip on the 2018 case release price of £1,560.

“Prices for Montrose have a 79% correlation to ‘Benchmark Critic’ scores. The 2019 release comes to the market above a number of physical vintages,” Liv-ex said.

Out of the blocks this morning was St. Emilion estate Ausone, which released its 2019 vintage at €420 per bottle ex-négociant, down 25.7% on the 2018 release price of €565.

As reported by Liv-ex, the wine, which received 97 points from  Jean Marc Quarin, is being offered by the international trade at £5280 per case, down 24.6% on the 2018 opening price of £7000 a case.

“Wines of similar price but slightly higher scores and available on the physical market include, 2006, 2008 and Neal Martin’s highest scored vintage, 2016,” Liv-ex said.

The estate’s second wine, Chapelle Ausons 2019, was also been released today at €120 per bottle ex-négociant.

In a busy morning of releases, Saint Julien second growth Leoville Barton 2019 also came out, with a release price of €51.6 per bottle ex-négociant, down 16.5% on the 2018 release price of €61.8. As reported by Liv-ex, volumes of the release are 15-20% down on 2018.

Neal Martin of Vinous gave Leoville Barton 2019 a 94-96 point score, putting the wine on par “with the best vintages in the recent years”.

“The 2015 vintage sits at 1.2% discount to the newest release but has the benefit of an in-bottle score and multiple years of bottle age.

“Buyers looking for additional value may consider 2014 and 2017, at just one-point shy of the top wines, they sit at a significant discount,” Liv-ex said.

Another big name out today was Pichon Baron, which released its 2019 vintage at €94.8 per bottle ex-negociant, down 16.8% on the 2018 release price of €114.

As reported by Liv-ex, Neal Martin gave the 2019 vintage of the Pauillac second growth a 2019 a 96-98 points score, noting that just under of the annual yields from the 73-hectare estate went into the gran vin.

Martin praised the wine’s “very fine salinity” and “persistent spice that beckons you back for more”, describing it as “an outstanding Pauillac”.

The Wine Advocate’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW was equally taken with the wine, describing it as, “an absolutely beguiling expression that is classic Pauillac and yet it is Pauillac like no other”. She gave the wine a 97-100 point score.

“Prices for Pichon Baron are 52% correlated to ‘Benchmark Critic’ scores. Today’s release price positions it below the implied ‘Fair Value’ line. Followers of Perrotti-Brown will find real value in the 2019,” Liv-ex said.

Summary

Montrose 2019 bottle release price: €96, down 24% on 2018

Ausone 2019 bottle release price: €420, down 26% on 2018

Leoville Baron 2019 bottle release price: €51.6, down 16.5% on 2018

Pichon Baron 2019 bottle release price: €94.8, down 17% on 2018