Archive for the
‘En Primeur’

What is En Primeur Investment?

Bordeaux en primeur is a type of wine investment where buyers purchase wine before it has been bottled and aged. The process begins in late summer/ early autumn, when the grapes are harvested. The grapes are usually fermented in stainless steel or concrete tanks and then aged in oak barrels for a period of 12-24 months.

After the ageing process is complete, the wine is bottled and released for sale as “en primeur”. This means that the wine is being sold before it is actually available to drink. The wine is then shipped to the buyer, typically a couple of years later. This can then be stored under bond, free from VAT and import duty, for many more years in bottle.

What are the advantages?

One of the main advantages of investing in Bordeaux en primeur is the potential for a high return on investment. As the wine ages and improves in quality, it also becomes rarer and its value can increase significantly. Additionally, Bordeaux wines are highly sought after by collectors and wine enthusiasts, which can also drive up the price.

Another advantage of Bordeaux en primeur is that it allows buyers to purchase wine at the release price which is often lower than if they were to buy it on the open market. This can be a great opportunity for wine enthusiasts and collectors to acquire high-quality wines at a more affordable price.

In Summary

Bordeaux en primeur is a type of wine investment where buyers purchase wine before it has been bottled and aged. The process begins with the grape harvest in the Autumn, the grapes are fermented, aged in oak barrels, and then bottled and released for sale as “en primeur” after the aging process is complete. The potential for a high return on investment, the opportunity to purchase wine directly from the winery at a lower price and having perfect provenance are some of the advantages of Bordeaux en primeur investment.

We are in our 9^th year of Bordeaux En Primeur Investment, with over 4 million under management. If you are interested in hearing more about the Bordeaux 2022 campaign or you would like to get involved, do get in touch.

Edward Stevens
Sales Manager
Waud Investment Wines Limited
edward.stevens@waudwines.com

The iconic investment grade wine from California was released today – it is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (84%), Petit Verdot (6%), Merlot (5%), Cabernet Franc (4%), and Malbec (1%), spent 17 months in new French oak. The joint Rothschild/Mondavi project was one of the earliest adopters of La Place, all the way back in 2004.  

Critical Acclaim

This is our 4th Opus One vintage and this super wine has received improved scores on last year.

Antonio Galloni at Vinous rated the 2018 Opus One a score of 95-points. In his tasting note, Galloni observed: “Silky tannins and lifted, perfumed aromatics add to an impression of finesse that distinguishes the 2018 from some of the preceding vintages in a pretty big way”. 

Lisa Perrotti-Brown at the Wine Advocate awarded it 98-points, and said that, “the 2018 Opus One soars out of the glass with bright, bold boysenberries, warm cassis and ripe, juicy black plums notes, plus emerging nuances of lilacs, oolong tea, cinnamon stick, tilled soil and black truffles”. 

James Suckling gave it 99-points, noting that this “lasts for minutes”. “So wonderful to taste now, but better after 2026”, he added. The wine also received 97-points from Jeb Dunnuck.  

Performance

Prices for Opus One tend to move with time rather than being influenced by critic scores. As can be seen in the chart below, older vintages command steadily higher prices.

If you are interested in discussing your investment wine options – please follow this link and fill in the form. 

Opus One 2017 has been released at £1370 per 6×75, a 6.8% decrease from the 2016 opening price of £1470 per case.

During the 2017 vintage in Napa, wildfires ravaged the Northern California area affecting both the size and taste (smoke taint) of the harvest. Antonio Galloni in his first impressions on the region, stated “readers will have to be very selective”, there are “some examples where smoke taint is impossible to ignore”. However, Lisa Perrotti-Brown informed that “Opus one had picked 91% of their fruit before the fires started in 2017, and only two lots were eliminated from consideration”. Volumes released however are said to be down 27% on the previous year.

Antonio Galloni awarded the wine 95 points, saying it is “one of the most complete wines of the vintage,” and “has a distinctly red-toned fruit profile that distinguishes it from the surrounding vintages”.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown also gave the wine 95 points, the top range of her barrel score (92-95). She observed the wine as “medium bodied, the palate has a lively skip in its step, featuring bags of juicy raspberry and cassis-laced fruits and a refreshing line, supported by ripe, plush tannins, finishing long and graceful”.

Prices for Opus One are not closely correlated to critic scores, instead the vintages have appreciated in price with the passing of time. The chart above shows an 81% correlation between the price of the wine and the bottle age.

We have taken our full allocation here – so if you are interested in joining our Opus One 2017 syndicate – please do get in touch. charles.waud@waudwines.com

2018 has been described as the best vintage in the past 20 years in Chile.

Seña was created as a joint-venture between Eduardo Chadwick and Robert Mondavi back in 1995, with the dream of making a wine that would show Chile’s full potential, a wine that would be welcomed, in time, among the world’s First Growths. Modeled on a Bordeaux style, it would have a Chilean soul given by its Carmenere variety, grown under the principles of biodynamic farming in the Aconcagua Valley.

Grape varieties: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 15% Carmenere, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot

Alcohol: 14%

Ageing: 22 Months – 85% New French oak barrels 15% Foudres.

It is the highest-ever scored vintage of Seña by the Wine Advocate, beating 315 other Chilean 2018s for 98 points from Luis Gutiérrez who says,“This has to be the finest vintage of Seña to date.” It has also been awarded the perfect 100 points by James Suckling who calls it, “a very intellectual Seña, with a glamorous palate, ultra-fine tannins and toned muscles”.

We have purchased a small parcel of Seña 2018 that is available to the market at £495.00 per six IB.

If you are interested in purchasing some of this wine – please contact charles.waud@waudwines.com