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Chateau Haut Brion 2011 – currently the best ‘off-prime’ addition to your portfolio

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The First Growths are, without doubt, the blue-chip mainstays of a strong wine investment portfolio providing liquidity and in the current market strong opportunity for growth.  All five offer great investor appeal and are in demand right now but if you don’t already own a case of Chateau Haut Brion, there are compelling reasons to do so now.

It is no secret that Haut Brion is a brand on the move after a series of high-scoring vintages in recent years. Liv-ex has also just reported, following recent analysis, that Haut Brion’s trading activity by volume has increased from 2012, when it had the lowest volume of trade amongst the First Growths at 12.9% to nearly doubling its market share to 24% of First Growth trade by volume, just behind Lafite Rothschild at 24.8% and Mouton Rothschild at 24.6%.    

The Vin-X analysts are constantly appraising the market for the best opportunities and we have previously commented on the Bordeaux 2011 vintage, with Chateau Cheval Blanc as a case in point. 2011 was a year overshadowed by the previous 2009 and 2010 extraordinary vintages, and we are now seeing a number of excellent 2011 wines emerging as they mature. Notably, Chateau Haut Brion 2011 has remained on our radar as one to watch. Parker scored the vintage as it went into bottle in 2014 and rated the First Growths as follows:

FIRST GROWTH 2011 VINTAGEROBERT PARKER SCORE
Haut Brion95
Latour93 – 95
Margaux93
Mouton Rothschild92-
Lafite Rothschild90 – 93

Robert Parker’s assessment:“The unbelievably superb 2011 Haut-Brion. The most amazing aspect of this terroir is that the wine, despite all its power and richness, literally dances on the palate, as if it were a 90 pound ballerina. This brilliant 2011 should evolve quickly, hitting its prime in 7-8 years, and drink beautifully for 20-25 years.”

Vin-X view –The 2011 vintage has seen prices appreciate across the board since the wines became physical and in our view Chateau Haut Brion 2011 is currently one of the best ways to gain exposure to a vintage with growing popularity with this iconic First Growth brand enjoying increasing demand and offering real potential for return on investment. The performance of the First Growths year-to-date and over two-year and five-year periods illustrate the general growth in demand and value over the three periods but also the potential still to be realized in the currently undervalued Haut Brion.

KEY:

YTD FIRST GROWTH 2011 VINTAGE PERFORMANCE

2 YEAR FIRST GROWTH 2011 VINTAGE PERFORMANCE

FIRST GROWTH 2011 VINTAGE PERFORMANCE SINCE EN PRIMEUR RELEASE:

In all three periods measured Haut Brion, the highest scoring First Growth of an increasingly popular vintage, is priced at a point offering scope for growth. Chateau Haut Brion produced only 7,600 cases of the 2011 Grand Vin, 3000 less than in 2009. Supply and demand is key in fine wine economics and this highest scoring First Growth of the vintage is also rarer than normal. Our analysts believe this is a great wine to be adding to your portfolio right now. Call the Vin-X team now on 0203 384 2262 for further information.