Bordeaux has recently been in the spotlight, with its market performance and future prospects examined in the latest edition of "Market Watch" from Decanter magazine’s February 2025 issue. Over the past two years, Bordeaux prices have decreased significantly amidst a broader downturn in the fine wine market. This trend is discussed in detail within the Market Watch section of the newly published March 2025 issue of Decanter.
Bordeaux Index, the international merchant sponsoring this section, describes Bordeaux’s position in the fine wine market as unique. While it remains the most actively traded region due to its visibility and stock availability, demand dynamics amongst collectors have waned. Despite the consistently high quality of Bordeaux wines over the last decade, many collectors appear to be looking elsewhere, possibly tired from less exciting en primeur campaigns.
There is an ongoing discussion about whether a revival in the fine wine market could particularly benefit Bordeaux, or if the region needs to reassess its pricing and distribution strategies to stimulate more activity. Bordeaux Index is currently reevaluating top Bordeaux wines from the notable 2015 vintage, with new scores expected that could influence future market movements.
Additionally, Liv-ex, a global trading platform for fine wine, highlighted a "significant stock overhang" concerning younger Bordeaux vintages. Their Bordeaux 500 index reflected a decline of around 4% in value over the past five years.
The newest "Market Watch" also features insights from Wine Lister, a consultancy that surveyed respondents about when they expect the fine wine market to see a recovery.
Highlighted upcoming events include the release of Château Latour 2016, which is poised to launch in mid-March, as well as the Hospices de Nuits-St-Georges auction in Burgundy scheduled for March 9. The La Paulée festival, celebrating its 25th anniversary, will host events in several U.S. cities at the end of February and early March.
For further detail, you can check the full Market Watch report and keep an eye out for next month’s deeper dive into Champagne’s performance in the fine wine market.