Chateau Petit Bocq in Saint Estephe is the first wine of the Bordeaux 2009 campaign to be released, just under 18% up from its 2008 price.
The 18ha property, owned by Gaëton Lagneaux, is being offered at an ex-negociant price of €10.50, up from €8.90 last year.
‘Around one-third of the estate (approximately 3,000 cases from a total production of 10,000) will be allocated to wine merchants, and the rest will be kept to sell direct.
Lagneux told decanter.com: ‘The decision to come out today was taken by my broker, but I always like to come out early in the campaign, and get things moving.
‘I have kept my price stable for a number of years, but it was getting increasingly difficult to make any margin at all.
‘I’m sure there will be plenty of chateaux who make my 15% rise seem more than reasonable!’.
Decanter’s scores and tasting notes from the Bordeaux 2009 en primeur tasting week can be found here.
Bordeaux 2009: All the coverage
Written by Jane Anson in Bordeaux
