Bordeaux 2017 releases continue to come thick and fast, with many top chateaux revealing their opening prices this week.
Margaux 2017 has been released at €348 per bottle ex-negociant, down 17% on the 2016 release of €420. James Suckling awarded the wine 97-98 points, describing it as “luscious and muscular at the same time”. Liv-ex members also enjoyed the wine, placing it third in their favourites of the vintage.
Chateau Pavie 2017 has been released at €276 per bottle ex-negociant, down 6.1% on the release price of the 2016 (€294). Neal Martin scored the wine 93-95 points, while Lisa Perotti-Brown awarded it 97-99. As Liv-ex notes, however, today’s offering comes with “a huge premium” to the price implied by the fair value methodology, so Pavie fans should “exercise patience in their purchasing decisions”.
Angelus has also been released at €276 per bottle ex-negociant, representing a drop of 6% on 2016’s opening price of €294. Its quality has been praised by critics – Jane Anson awarded it 96 points. However, buyers may have a hard time coming by this one. Not only are the volumes on offer 60% lower than last year, but the chateau’s new owner Stephanie de Bouard-Rivoal has made it clear she intends to “tighten” the distribution of Angelus. Earlier this year she told the drinks business: “My idea is to sell the wine to the right person, so we have efficient and fluid distribution. We want our wines to be drunk not sitting somewhere in storage room”.
Also released this week is Leoville Las Cases, at €144 per bottle ex-negociant, down 20% on the 2016 release of €180; Pavillion Rouge, at €132 per bottle ex-negociant, up 16% on the 2016 release of €114 (the chateau is no doubt capitalising on the 20% rise of its index over the last year); and Figeac and Conseillante, both offered at €120 per bottle ex-negociant, and both down 20% on the 2016 release of €150.
