Mortgage or future?
The Bordeaux 2005 vintage has been widely praised–Parker wondered whether it was “perfect”– and now the top chateaus are now releasing their long-awaited prices. The top, top grands crus will be out next week and are expected at around $500 for a 750 ml bottle (about $20 an ounce). How much is too much? What is your strategy for futures?
I may take the plunge on one marginal (read: affordable) 05 wine. But it’s unlikely. I think I’ll deploy my Bordeaux budget in the vintages that have been overlooked such as 1999 or 2002. My fear is that the 05s will not be worth in two years what they are worth now.
Below are some prices to illustrate that for a lot of these wines, it’s often a question of buying a future or making a mortgage payment. Scary. Even more scary was a quote from today’s LA Times. Don Schliff, Bordeaux expert at Wine Warehouse in LA, wonders if he’ll be able to get allocations that are big enough. Wowza.
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Here are some high 2005 prices per case from recent emails I have received from various retailers. If you are honestly interested in finding the best price, click the link.
La Mission Haut Brion 95-97 pts, WA $2999 per case find this wine
Pape Clement 96-100pts, WA $1699 find this wine
Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2005 (750ML) (WS92-94) $1680 find this wine
Palmer (WS95-100/WA94-96) $2880 find this wine
Magrez Fombrauge (WA94-96) $2700 find this wine
Marojallia 94-97 pts, WA $1699 find this wine
Pape Clement Blanc 94-96 pts, WA $1799 find this wine
Found one price for Haut-Brion already: $5568.72 !! (I like the .72) find this wine
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