THE FINE WINES OF BORDEAUX? THEY EARNED MORE THAN GOLD, OIL AND STOCKS, SAYS LIV-EX, WHICH MONITORED THE 2010 INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE OF FINE WINES. 5 ITALIAN WINES ON THE LIST: SASSICAIA, MASSETO, ORNELLAIA, GAJA, SOLAIA (ANTINORI)

The Fine Wines of Bordeaux were a better investment than gold, oil and stocks in the last 12 months, according to the Liv-ex Fine Wine Exchange (www.liv-ex.com). The index measures the return on investments in great wines. The Liv-Ex Fine Wine Index 50, which monitors the value performance of the Bordeaux Premier Cru across ten different vintages, established a +57% growth in value in 2010, breaking the 400-point barrier in December.
In 2010, gold increased in value by 35%, oil 20% and the main stock indexes, S & P 500 and FTSE 100, rose 13% and 11%, respectively. According to the Liv-Ex analysis these increases are primarily related to the exceptionally strong demand from Asian markets, China and Hong Kong in particular. The Asian market has also significantly expanded the demand for other Chateaux Bordeaux, the great wines of Burgundy and Sauternes in the last few months of 2010.
Source: www.decanter.com



Focus - What is Liv-Ex?

Liv-Ex (London International Vintage Exchange Fine Wine Index, www.live-ex.com) represents the 100 most prestigious and sought after bottles in the world, placing this type of product among the most solid investments whose returns are not related to traditional asset classes. This special index has gained considerable authority: for example, Jancis Robinson, Master of Wine and one of the most famous wine writers in the world, praises the utility of this tool through which “many wine collectors can then check the value of their cellars. Liv-Ex is a great access to financial information on the wine market and enables non-professionals to access various packets of information”.
It is thus a sort of “mini stock exchange” reflecting the average value of the most coveted wines in the world. It started providing its first listings in 1999. The wines that make up the stock exchange may vary each month according to changes on the wine market and also according to the indications of members of the “committee”, the Liv-Ex management committee, composed of 155 of the largest wholesalers in the world (but also depending on the ratings of world wine critic gurus: for example, Robert Parker Jr).



Focus - Liv-ex 100 “Fine Wine Power list” (strictly in order of value)

Lafite Rothschild Bordeaux

Latour Bordeaux

Mouton Rothschild Bordeaux

Margaux Bordeaux

Haut-Brion Bordeaux

Domaine Romanée Conti Burgundy

Pétrus Bordeaux

Mission Haut-Brion Bordeaux

Ausone Bordeaux

Carruades de Lafite Bordeaux

Penfolds Grange Australia

Pontet Canet Bordeaux

Yquem Bordeaux

Palmer Bordeaux

Duhart Milon Bordeaux

Forts de Latour Bordeaux

Léoville Las Cases Bordeaux

Cos d’Estournel Bordeaux

Angelus Bordeaux

Cheval Blanc Bordeaux

Sassicaia Italy

Pin Bordeaux

Montrose Bordeaux

Krug Vintage Champagne

Ducru Beaucaillou Bordeaux

Salon Mesnil Champagne

Pavillon Rouge Bordeaux

Lynch Bages Bordeaux

Clos Papes Rhône

Pavie Bordeaux

Masseto Italy

Ornellaia Italy

Haut-Brion Blanc Bordeaux

Guigal E Rhône

Eglise Clinet Bordeaux

Opus One U.S.A.

Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne

Dominus Australia

Rayas Rhône

Dom Pérignon Vintage Champagne

Beaucastel Rhône

Fleur Pétrus Bordeaux

Leroy Burgundy

Bouchard P&F Burgundy

Chave JL Rhône

Troplong Mondot Bordeaux

Beychevelle Bordeaux

Taylor’s Port

Léoville Poyferré Bordeaux

Pichon Lalande Bordeaux 50

Vieux Château Certan Bordeaux

Grivot J Burgundy

Conseillante Bordeaux

Leflaive Burgundy

Petit Mouton Bordeaux

Haut Bailly Bordeaux

Bahans/Clarence Haut-Brion Bordeaux

Sauzet E Burgundy

Lafleur Bordeaux

Henschke Australia

Léoville Barton Bordeaux

Evangile Bordeaux

Hosanna Bordeaux

Gaja A Italy

Solaia Italy

Trotanoy Bordeaux

Jaboulet Rhône

Vega Sicilia Spain

Pichon Baron Bordeaux

Lascombes Bordeaux

Petit Cheval Bordeaux

Calon-Ségur Bordeaux

Pegau Rhône

Fonseca Port

Janasse Rhône

Figeac Bordeuax

Raveneau Burgundy

Pavie Macquin Bordeaux

Clerc Milon Bordeaux

Pape Clément Bordeaux

Clos Fourtet Bordeaux

Pape Clément Blanc Bordeaux

Rousseau A Burgundy

Issan Bordeaux

Clinet Bordeaux

Roumier Burgundy

Smith Haut Lafitte Bordeaux

Armailhac Bordeaux

Talbot Bordeaux

Rauzan-Ségla Bordeaux

Pavie Decesse Bordeaux

Rouget E Burgundy

Dauvissat Burgundy

Dow Port

Climens Bordeaux

Bonneau du Martray Burgundy

Malescot St Exupery Bordeaux

Clos l’Eglise Bordeaux

Rieussec Bordeaux

Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill Champagne