Since 2011, Liv-ex have published a yearly classification of Left Bank Bordeaux chateaux based on the price of the five most recent vintages. Here we take a look at some of the risers and fallers since both 1855 and 2011 and offer some commentary on their movement.
Lynch Bages and Pontet Canet, the pair of over-performing 5th Growths, are the most obvious winners of this table, both firmly now classed as 2nd Growths by Liv-ex. Their rise has been very different, as trade and consumers really woke up to Lynch with their pair of back-to-back 99-point wines in ’89 and ‘90. By contrast, Pontet Canet has put itself on the map more recently with its pair of 100-pointers in 2009 and 2010 and it’s much fan fared biodynamic ethos.
Palmer deserves a mention, climbing from 3rd Growth to the very top 2nd Growth, as does Beychevelle (4th Growth to 2nd Growth).
Whilst the movement since 1855 is interesting, the movement since 2011 is probably more useful because it is a measure of the price movement of recent vintages against other chateaux. This may give an idea of which chateaux are on an uptrend in the short term at least. The biggest climbers since 2011 are Durfort Vivens, the 2nd Growth that has struggled to make top class wine for years, and Boyd Cantenac. It’s very interesting to see these two chateaux occupying the spot of best short-term performers as their wines have been out of favour for some time. Time to buy these wines? Maybe.
Other chateaux gaining places since 2011 that are worthy of a mention are Saint-Pierre and Smith Haut Lafitte, both examples of Chateaux that outperformed expectations in ’09 and ’10.
The chateaux that have risen on both scoring measures (since 1855 and since 2011) form an exclusive club. These are Chateaux that have both a long and short term uptrend and should be given very close examination, both now (for back vintages) and in en primeur season. They are Latour, Cos d’Estournel, Montrose, Pontet Canet, Pichon Baron, Calon Segur, Smith Haut Lafitte and Saint-Pierre. Most of us have a few ‘favourite chateaux’ for sentimental reasons or otherwise. If any of these are among your favourites, the signs are good. If they are not, you may want to consider making them so!
PS: Props to the three big hitting rivals from Pessac-Leognan, Pape-Clement, Smith Haut Lafitte and Haut Bailly, all unclassified in 1855 (but later classified in 1953), storming high up the table to settle comfortably as low 2nd / high 3rd Growths. All these Chateaux made fantastic wines in ’09 and ’10, including some 100 pointers. Watch them closely. We will be.
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