THE FIRST INCREASES STARTED OUT "QUIETLY" AT AROUND 20%, THEN CHATEAUX ACCELERATED 2015 VINTAGE PRICES AND NOW CHATEAU MARGAUX HAS ANNOUNCED ITS PRICE: 384 EUROS PER BOTTLE "EX-NEGOCIANT" (+60% OVER 2014)...

The big chateaux in Bordeaux are raising the prices of the most famous French wines. After several major Châteaux in recent weeks began to release their prices for 2015 (almost unanimously considered by critics worldwide a great harvest, among the best in the last 20 years) at rather moderate increases, around 20% compared to the not excellent 2014, the big names have been quoting much higher price increases. For instance, Château Palmer quoted 160 euros per bottle, up 31% on 2014 and Château Haut Bailly, 66 euros, + 53%.
But today, Château Margaux, of undeniable charm and scores close to perfection (Liv-ex platform users say it is the "wine of the vintage"), quoted an ex-negociant price of 384 euros per bottle, as much as 60% more than 2014 (www.blog.liv-ex.com).
While waiting for the other big Bordeaux names, the hopes of those who thought price increases would be not too high, are starting to be dashed as the Châteaux reveal their prices.
Who knows with these prices that are increasing daily, who will be right: the 73.9% of wine merchants Liv-Ex polled that expects a rise in demand for Bordeaux wines, or the 18.8% that thinks there will be no big changes, in terms of volumes, or the 7.3% that expects a decline in the Bordeaux market compared to 2014.