Hong Kong, Beaune and the BBC
On their news website, the BBC have placed this article. We have been commenting on the recent price fall several times in this blog, so it comes as a bit of non-news. In the article though, Berry's uses the example of Lafite Rothschild 2005 falling in price from the high of gbp 10,000 to gbp 7,500. Interestingly, you can pick up this wine from Ditton Wine Traders for gbp 6,500 – proving our point that our prices are very difficult to beat.
Acker Merrall & Condit have just completed their second auction in Hong Kong. Prices achieved were very conservative, often below the low estimate. However, the sell through rate was encouraging, with 90% of the lots sold. If you are in the lucky position of being cash rich, there are some good pickings at the moment: "When the market gets tough, the tough get going".
Finally, the yearly Hospices de Beaune charity auction has been held this weekend. There as well, prices were on the conservative side. Due to the small crop this year as well as the economic climate, the total sales value was down on the last 2 years. Sterling being as low as it is at the moment, demand from the UK – traditionally one of the biggest buyers, was low. Given these factors, the result was actually quite encouraging says Christie's Anthony Hanson MW in Decanter.