Looking to invest in a wine that won’t cost you an arm and a leg but could pay handsome rewards? The word on the street is buy Chateau Lynch-Bages.
While researching another topic entirely for Decanter magazine, Lynch-Bages was the hot tip on all the wine merchants’ lips. Since the 2009 vintage was released, there’s a belief that this Pauillac chateau has set out its stall for the future – it is going to be a wine for the rich.
I remember my dad buying the 2000 when it came out en primeur as something to drink. It was a little more expensive than the usual crap he buys but it wasn’t overpriced. He’s now seen what it’s worth today (£1579, according to the new market data tool at Fine+Rare Wines) and can’t bring himself to drink something so expensive (I’ve offered to help him out if he needs some encouragement pulling the corks).
With the release of the 2009 at an all-time high, it has raised the bar for the future. Simon Staples, fine wine director at Berry Bros & Rudd, advises: “I would buy any vintage of Lynch-Bages under £700. The 2009 vintage has marked a new price point that won’t come down.”
Inevitably, the Far East has boosted demand for the wine and the price has risen accordingly. Alan Liu, sommelier at The French Window in Hong Kong, explains: “Lynch-Bages is really easy to pronounce here. We sell it to them as ‘Lansey Barr’ as that’s how it is said in Cantonese.”
So, how much can you expect to pay at the moment? The 2005 (91 Parker points) started life at under £500 en primeur, it’s now trading at £796 – which is still relatively good value when you look at the 2000 which is trading at £1579 and the 2009 at £1036.
However, the value really lies in those lesser vintages where Lynch-Bages performed well. The 2008 (91-93 points) can be picked up for the £600 mark, the 2006 (92 points) for £620 and the 2004 (also 92 points) for £618. I think I’m going to follow my own advice and pick up a few cases.
Staples adds: “Lynch-Bages has always done the investor very well. The quality of the wine has got infinitely better in the past years.”
