The Chinese New Year has traditionally led to a spike in buying driving demand and price growth in certain investment wines. Discover which may be the most sought after for the Year of the Dragon in 2024.
Dragon vintages for investors in 2024
It’s sixty years since the last Wood Dragon Year in 1964 and wine investors tuned into the Chinese Horoscope will be seeking out those wines that may resonate amongst the usual Bordeaux and Burgundy icons.
Recent Dragon year vintages are:
- 2012
- 2000
- 1988
- 1976
- 1964
Wines from all these vintages could be targets for Chinese gift givers and wine enthusiasts with the advent of the 2024 Year of the Dragon.
The power of 9!
It’s worth noting that the number 9 is significant to the Dragon Year, so vintages including the number 9 are likely to be prized. The lucky hand of fate would have it that two of the most lauded vintages of the century so far are 2009 and 2019.
- Chateau Lafleur 2019 was the top performing wine in December 2023. The wine’s price was up 114.7% at 31.12.2023 since its release in 2020.
- Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2019 was the top traded wine on Liv-ex by value in the first week of 2024.
- Super Tuscan Sassicaia 2019 was a top 5 by value and second by volume traded on Liv-ex as the year opened.
The Bordeaux 2009 vintage was awarded the highest number of perfect 100-point scores by the world’s most influential fine wine critic, Robert Parker Jnr of any modern vintage.
In 2023, the famous Southwold Tasting focused on the wines of the Bordeaux 2019 vintage by a group wine critics and journalists which included some of the current most influential. The outcome of this was to highlight 2019 as possibly the best Bordeaux vintage to date.
The highest scored and rarest wines of these two vintages should be on wine investors’ watch-list in 2024. The price adjustment the fine wine sector has undergone since October 2022 means there are truly outstanding wines available at highly reduced prices which offer strong potential for future growth.
It’s not just about the year, parcels of nine bottles of wine will also be resonant to the Dragon Year. Three x three bottle cases for example and a six-pack and three bottle case will be on the ‘wish list’ of target Bordeaux and Burgundies.
Fine wines with Dragon labels
Chateau Quintus: Those wines with an overt link to a dragon will likely grab attention. We pointed to Chateau Quintus in our blog concerning the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival in October 2023. The chateau is the latest addition to the Domaine Clarence Dillon stable, headed up by First Growth Chateau Haut Brion. It probably has the most stunning Dragon in its vineyard - and it's pictured at the top of this page.
Commissioned by Prince Robert of Luxembourg, and designed by Mark Coreth, the dragon sculpture has an impressive six-metre wingspan. Oozing quality and class, the wines from this gorgeous St Emilion estate are on our watch list and will add allure to any collection.
Chateau Beychevelle: Has long been a favourite of Asian collectors with its dragon boat emblem a highly recognised Bordeaux icon. Since 2008, when demand from the Far East first impacted the secondary market in a significant way, Beychevelle quickly became a target, along with the First Growths. Beychevelle’s average price performance has out-paced the general Liv-ex Bordeaux 500 benchmark trend and has maintained strong, long term growth.
Trade in Chateau Beychevelle wines has been on the rise on Liv-ex in the last few months and it could well be the forthcoming Chinese New Year is a further incentive to buy.
Are Bordeaux First Growths key targets for Dragon investors in 2024?
The five Bordeaux First Growths have always been a primary focus with Chateau Lafite Rothschild the most popular brand of choice when the market first opened to Asian investors. At the start of 2024 Bordeaux First Growths have enjoyed active trade in the secondary market with Margaux, Latour and Haut Brion vintages (2005, 2009, 2015 and 2018) enjoying decent demand.
Investor attention has broadened into other regions over the last decade as the secondary market and accessibility has evolved. Asian collectors and wine investors are likely to maintain their focus in 2024 to be slightly more weighted to Burgundy, except for buyers from Hong Kong who still have a primary focus on Bordeaux and in Japan there is a strong Champagne following.
The Year of the Wood Dragon starts on the 10th of February 2024, so you have time to find the perfect wines to celebrate and invest in this special period for many.
You can get more information on the current market opportunities from our expert team on 0203 384 2262. If you are new to wine investment you can download our in-depth investment guide for more information.