Values for leading Bordeaux wines are up 3.36% since the start of the year, according to figures from the Liv-ex Fine Wine 50 Index.
The positive numbers for the "Blue Chip" of the wine collecting world are indicative of the health of the word's wine markets, and provide considerable excitement to potential buyers.
Sotheby's recent monumental wine auction in London is a prime example of the market's strength, with a £28,200 six-magnum lot of Chateau Le Pin 1990 highlighting the Bordeaux offerings, while a case of Petrus beat its £10,000 estimate by 23.3%, with a £12,338 showing.
The index tracks 50 Bordeaux first growths, produced between 1999 and 2008. The relative infancy of the bottles' years suggests that collectors with an eye on potential profit will find much to enjoy from Bordeaux produced in the past decade or so.
 Bordeaux first growths – up 3.36% since the start of the year |
The positive figures from 2012 are backed by the longer-term view of the index.
Values for the 50 specimens, which include Haut Brion, Lafite Rothschild, Latour and Margaux first growths, are up 8.86% pa since March 2010.
And since January 2000, values are up 6.45% pa.
The leading auction houses have noticed a surge in demand of late, as a growing number of high-net worth individuals looking for enjoyable portfolio diversification have entered the market.
Christie's wine sales grew by approximately 25% in 2011, while Bonhams has posted 50% gains in both 2010 and 2011, with Bordeaux first growths providing the auction house with the biggest prices.
Paul Fraser Collectibles will keep you abreast of forthcoming developments in the fine wine market.
