Rumours surrounding the illustration of the 2008 Chateau Mouton Rothschild label are driving values upward.

Following the decision from Chateau Lafite Rothschild to include the Chinese symbol for the number eight on its 2008 offering, speculation has grown that Chateau Mouton Rothschild will use a Chinese artist for its label design, the Drinks Business reports.

Lafite's Chinese symbol announcement saw prices immediately surge, and mere speculation about the Mouton label has seen values rise from £4,770 per case to £6,370 in the last two weeks.

The publication notes that such was the furore surrounding the Lafite symbol, the 2008 is now more expensive than the label's much-heralded 2009 vintage.

As the price of First Growth Bordeaux continues to rise, smaller vineyards from the region have benefited from a knock-on effect.

News provider Bloomberg noted this week that the amount of money spent on Chateau Pichon-Longeville recently had been described as "eye-watering".