How did the year turn out in the Fine Wine Market?

It was a good year for fine wine in 2011 with auction houses  reporting solid sales but the Bordeaux market and prices are expected to fall further in 2012.


Wine sales at auction house in 2011:
-Acker Merrall & Condit topped $110 million,
-Christie's sales are more than $90 million,
-Sotheby's wine auctions hit $85,5 million,
-Bonhams finished at $17 million.


Richard Harvey predicts prices for Lafite, Latour, Margaux, Haut-Brion and Mouton will
 remain stables, or even dip further in the first three months of 2012. Cases of 1982 Lafite, which sold in March more than $60 000 a case were fetching less than $45 000 at auction. The dip makes it unlikely that the 300 bottle of Chateau Lafite-Rotschild with vintages between 1981 and 2005 that was sold more than $539 000 will reach that level again soon.
Prices for Burgundy, specifically Domaine Romanee-Conti, are expected to remain high because the amount of wines produced in the region is so small. But in Burgundy, auction prices were lower this year. At the Hospices de Beaune auction in November, where wealthy wine enthusiasts bid in a yearly sale whose proceeds are donated to charity, the average prices were down by 6,2 percent for reds and 12,9 percent for whites.


The fine wine market is in constant evolution and we can have a pretty good outook in terms of the growth of this market in the long term. There will be new new byers, new collectors, new drinkers from around the world.

NEWS: Anish Kapoor illustrates the Label of Château Mouton Rotschild 2009

Every Year since 1945, a great artist has created an original artwork for the Château Mouton Rotschild Label. Thus, the most famous names in contemporary art are brought together in a colection to which a new work is added each year.
The commission to illustrate the 2009 vintage was given to the sculptor, painter and visual artist Anish Kapoor, a british citizen  of indian origin, born in Mumbai in 1954 and leading figure of contemporary art. His work reflects and transcends world's diversity through a constant invention of forms that offer the viewer unforgettable experiences.
At once austere and flamboyant, the gouache he has created for Mouton Rotschild2009 expresses the fertile thrust of plant life, the result of an intense encounter between matter and light.


About Château Mouton Roschild 
Premier Cru Classé
200 acres of vines at Pauillac in the Medoc
Grapes Varieties: 
83 % Cabernet Sauvignon,
3 % Cabernet Franc
14 % Merlot
Vintage 2009: the wine has a very deep, almost black colour. the stylish and complex nose displays aromas of bilberry, blackcurrant and blond tabacco that mingle with  subtle cedarwood and spice notes. The same refinement and density are to be found on the palate with patrician, well-rounded tannins, revealing remarkable structure and balance right through to the long and opulent finish.

The great Bordeaux in December, it's Christmas!

Twelve Parisian restaurants create the event this month. Until December 31st, well-included New Year eves, they propose a large selection of Bordeaux with new price, which is accessible. Ten castles were selected, in vintage ready to drink, like Figeac on 2000 to Yquem on 2008, and Beychevelle, Conseillante, Calon Ségur or Pape Clément.

This operation aims at reconciling the amateurs of great wines with the best wine of Bordeaux, often proposed in disheartening price lists. That is why it was baptized " Carte sur Table ", with attractive prices, as Pétrus on 2004 at 500 euro, Lafite on 2001 at 520 euro, or Brane Cantenac at 85 euro. It is to say that in card (menu), it is indeed the trump card

The group Duclot, while a big trader of Bordeaux, who so wished to go towards the final consumer, through Grand Crus, a recognized specialist of which he is. His subsidiary La VINICOLE, dedicated to the sale of these wines in restoration.

 

Any information on the site to www.cartesurtable.fr.

A basketball player scored in Wine

Retired Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming is venturing into a new world, launching a wine collection in his own name in Shanghai on Sunday, 27 November, at a charity auction oragnised by the Special Olympics. The inaugural bottle of the Yao Ming 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, made by his newly established wine company, Yao Family Wines, was shown off to the public auction.

The new bottle of 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon will soon be launched in the market under his name, and he did his best in trying to sell his Californian wine to a crowd of potential bidders at the auction.

The final bid for his auction that included the combined items of the inaugural bottle of "Yao Ming" wine and a Salvatore Ferragamo shoe last made to be for his feet size, was 200,000 yuan ($ 31,000).

Yao Ming said about his wine " First, this is a 2009 wine and we can feel everything inside this wine is in the past, like being in a time capsule.Also, a lot of times, when we enjoy wine, it is not the simple act of drinking the wine, but it also contains the feeling of the wonderful time that you spend with your friends enjoying wine"

Wine is not a "drink", it is a moment.

Focus on Alain Delon: wine auction sale

Yesterday, the wine collection of Alain Delon sold at Fouquet’s ( Paris hotel and restaurant ) reported the sum of 250,412 euro, well above estimates.

The Cornette de Saint Cyr house estimated the wine collection value around 100, 000 euro before the auction sale, but some bottles were sold above market value. Indeed, the set of 6 bottles of Cheval blanc 1947 estimated between 9,000 and 10,800 euros have been sold 20,000 euro! And in the same way, a bottle of Cognac Martell estimated around 400 euro has been sold 2,500 euro… this auction sale was just amazing, and a big part of its success is coming from the seller: we are calling that “the Impact Alain Delon”.

10 better Wines 2011 By The Wine Spectator

The list of 100 better wines of the year 2011 will publish the 6th December in the Wine Spectator Magazine in the USA.

Wine Spectator selection its 10 better wines 2011:

1. Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2009


2. Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Kathryn Hall 2008


3. Domaine Huët Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg Première Trie 2009


4. Campogiovanni Brunello di Montalcino 2006


5. Dehlinger Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2008


6. Baer Ursa Columbia Valley 2008


7. Quinta do Vallado Touriga Nacional Douro 2008


8. Domenico Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra 2006


9. Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage La Guiraude 2009


10. Château de St.-Cosme Gigondas Valbelle 2009

Wine Spectator notes 2011 News!

A Californian Pinot Noir named wine of the Year

A Californian pinot noir stemming from a small producer of Sonoma who does not possess the slightest vineyard was elected Wine of the year by the influential American magazine Wine Spectator.

Between 16.000 wines, the Kosta Brown 2009 (Pinot Noir) was able to attract attention during a blind tasting. Wines was considered according to the quality, the value for money, the availability and the factor X (pleasure) .

The story of Kosta Browne producer is surprising: the founders, Dan Kosta and Michael Browne, used to work as waiters and saved all their tips to realize their dream. After 8 months, they bought one half-ton of pinot noir grapes. They produced 66 high quality of wine for the next 10 years.

Tasting:

Grape variety: Pinot Noir from south and north-west of Sonoma

Aromas: cherry, ripe cranberry, with an evolution to black plum, sage, and Provencal herbs.

Price : 52$

Score : 95/100

HONG KONG NEWS

Focus on Hong Kong

Last week, have been sold the Don Stott collection (rare Burgundy wines) in Hong Kong,  Acker  Merrall ( wine auctioneer) announced 10,5 Millions euros sold this day. The collection was composed of Romanee Conti, Georges Roumier, Henri Jayer, Louis Jadot, Leroy, Dujac… Cases of 12 bottles were sailing at 4000, 6000, 10 000, 25 000 euros!

This kind of sales is current in Hong Kong: 1 or 2 times per month. But why it’s happening in Hong Kong?!

Hong Kong opened their doors 3 years ago: authorities wanted to give a new identity to the megalopolis, the island must be the new platform of the Fine Wines trading. In 2008, Hong Kong did away with importation taxes: the beginning of “The Wine Hub”.  In fact, their first strategy is to take the place of London, which has the most important wine stocks. This last one can be afraid because in 3 years, the importations value of Fine Wine via Hong Kong increased by three (900 millions in 2011)!!

Hong Kong starts to take a big place in the Fine Wine trading, and does not stop there…

reporting Sauternes open day

Harvest 2011: Cooperatives optimistic about the harvest and prices

Cooperatives are optimistic with a 2011 harvest more abundant and prices are expected to continue, said Wednesdaythe Confederation of Cooperatives wineries of France (FVAC).

"We find the smile after three years of crisis that left the tenantsin a terrible cash position," said the AFP Denis Verdier, president of the FVAC.

The harvest forecasts show 50 million bushels harvested in 2011, an increase of 11% in volumes compared to last year, saidVerdier.

The French higher volumes, however, should not lead to lowerprices, assured the head. Crops in Europe especially in Italy and Spain, the two main competitors in France, are in decline, he said.

Prices paid to producers are normally persist, according to Mr.Verdier who believes that some appellations such as Cotes du Rhone are expected to increase their prices by 5 to 10%.

Last year at this time the FVAC requested an increase of "at least 10%" of rates, especially for entry-level wines. These increases were achieved or exceeded for up to 20%, saidVerdier.

According to him, the consumer has been little affected by these increases, the retail and trade have eroded margins.

© 2010 AFP