Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild release first 2009 tranche
Chateaux Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild have released the first tranche of their en primeur 2009 wines, albeit at prices that may have aficionados reaching deep into their pockets.
Both are selling to negociants for €450 (£303) per bottle, according to decanter.com, although many merchants are waiting until larger quantities become available before ordering due to the miniscule amount so far released.
Lafite Rothschild's price reflects a considerable rise of 323 per cent on last year's price and 53 per cent compared with 2005, the last great year for Bordeaux.
According to an unnamed source in Bordeaux, chateaux like Lafite are increasingly withholding produce to be sold in years to come.
"The en primeur campaign is a mere coup de pub (publicity stunt) for the money that is going to be made by the chateaux from these wines in the future," the source told decanter.com.
Other recent Bordeaux en primeur 2009 pricings to be revealed include Latour's second wine, Forts de Latour, which went on sale for €89 (£74).