Bordeaux 2012: Smith Haut-Lafitte, Pichon Baron drop 10% on 2011

Smith Haut-Lafitte and Pichon Baron head a fresh flurry of Bordeaux 2012 wine releases, as this year's campaign continues to lack vigour.

After a pause for French bank holidays, the Bordeaux 2012 campaign has restarted with a few high profile chateaux bringing the total number of released prices to nearly 70% of the expected total.

Chateau Smith Haut-Lafitte brought its red wine out at a drop of 10.53% on last year, to €40.80 ex-Bordeaux, while keeping its white wine unchanged at €57.50.

Chateau Pichon Baron de Longueville and Chateau Clos Fourtet both saw a similar discount, down by 10% to €65 and €45 respectively ex-Bordeaux.

Chateau Calon Ségur dropped by just 3% to €38.40, but after a significant fall in 2011 from €57.60 in 2010. The estate is under new ownership this year, with a small investment from the Moueix family of Pétrus, and is reported to have sold out quickly.

‘Calon is always a strong brand,’ one courtier told Decanter.com, ‘and it has been one of the few wines this year that sold through immediately upon release.

‘Pichon Baron, in contrast, has not been so well received. It’s more expensive than other comparable vintages on the market, such as the 2006, and almost the same price as the 2011. It’s not helping what is an already difficult campaign.’

Several smaller estates have also released at the start of this week, including: Pedesclaux at €19.20 ex-Bordeaux, down 5.88%; Fayat at €16.5, down 1.44%; Capbern Gasqueton at €10.8, down 4.26%; and Clos Puy Arnaud at €13.50 down 1.74%.

Written by Jane Anson in Bordeaux