En primeur 2009 prices 'higher than 2005'
En primeur 2009 prices are rising above 2005 levels as more and more chateaux put their wines on the market, it has been revealed.
Last week, chateau Gazin in Pomerol was released at €45 (£39) per bottle, an increase of 41 per cent compared with 2005, while the Sauternes have seen the steepest rises - going from €35 (£30) in 2005 to €45, decanter.com revealed.
Tim Snyder, manager of fine wines at the US-based Republic National Distributing Company, said the mid-range wines are performing well in terms of sales, although the big-name chateaux like Mouton Rothschild and Latour are yet to release their prices.
"There is a demand, but mainly for more inexpensive chateaux, many of which are rated about 90 points," he told the website.
"All of the stores that I know that import directly are being very cautious about the top chateaux."
A decanter.com survey recently suggested that speculators from Asia are likely to be the biggest Bordeaux 2009 buyers.