Domaine Clarence Dillon’s top chateaux have made their 2017 releases.
Chateau Haut Brion 2017 has been released at €348 per bottle ex-negociant, down 17% on the 2016 release of €420. Volumes are 40% lower than last year.
Critics have praised the wine, with Roger Voss from Wine Enthusiast awarding it 97-99 points and commenting on its “longevity and great structure”. Neal Martin scored it 94-96 points.
As Liv-ex notes, prices for Haut Brion price are 91% correlated to score, and based on today’s release price the 2017 is above the fair value trend line. Those seeking value might consider the higher scoring 2012, which is available for 15% less than the 2017.
Also released today is La Mission Haut Brion 2017, at €240 per bottle ex-negociant, 28.6% lower than the opening price of the 2016 (€336). The chateau has purposefully decided to reduce volumes coming to the market by 30%.
Neal Martin awarded the wine 93-95 points, while Matthew Juke scored it 19+/20, calling it “one of the wines of the vintage”.
However, the wine comes with a significant premium – 85% to the price implied by Liv-ex’s fair value methodology. Fans of the label might instead consider higher scoring vintages such as the 2008, 2012 and 2014, all of which are available at a discount to the 2017.
Mission Haut Brion Blanc has also been released this morning at €480 per bottle ex-negociant, the same release price as the 2016 and 2015.
