A place near me as a RP 100 pt Bordeaux for $600/bottle. The WS price is $900 on average, and the $600 seems to be the best price I can find worldwide for anything that’s not an auction. It’s a 2019 with 20+ years of aging potential. I have a professional wine storage facility I use so I can drop it there and forget it. They have 3 bottles on hand so I could spend $600, 1200, or 1800.
This is an amount of money I could afford - but it would also be the most I’ve spent on a single bottle before. I’m intrigued by the possibility of getting it significantly below average price, and the potential for a dramatic increase in “value” over time… but even if it goes to $1000 a bottle it’s going to be very hard to sell a single bottle years from now so I wouldn’t really be buying trying to flip the bottles or anything.
I guess basically the question is - would you buy this wine just because it’s a good deal? I’m sure I will enjoy this wine in 10 years but I would enjoy many wines in 10 years that aren’t $600 each. OTOH maybe it’s a good opportunity and I should take it. I’m curious what people’s thoughts are?
I would absolutely not buy the wine expecting it to increase in value. There are many examples of collectibles dropping in value as opposed to always increasing. Plus the wine market is extremely illiquid so value is a relative term. You must feel comfortable drinking this wine at this price.
I assume it’s a first growth Bordeaux or equivalent given the info you have provided. I will tell you that $600 is the market. The WS average is bullshit because many retailers take very high mark ups and try to wait out the market. Never rely on that. The low WS piece is thew price but more accurately I only use auction pricing for Bordeaux.
If it’s a wine you want in your cellar then I would say buy it. Any other reason then do not. You will regret it later.
If you wanted to buy 2019 Cheval Blanc for investment you would have wanted to buy it EP for $450. $600 it’s going for now is likely what you will be able to buy it for in 10 years.
I would not hesitate to spend $600 on a bottle of wine if it was the right bottle. There are very few bottles that are the right bottles.
But there are other factors to consider. If it is priced below market, you need to understand why. Sometimes I find gems that are simply below the radar. But if it is a sought after bottle, then selling below market could indicate a risk. What is it they say about something too good to be true?
So no, I would never buy simply because it is a good deal. There will always be good deals out there someplace. I would buy because you want that particular bottle and you have confidence in the source. And even then, there is a risk that the bottle could be counterfeit or could have been subjected to averse conditions.
I should also mention, RP100 doesn’t mean the same thing it used to. RP is long since retired. I would never buy something based on an RP rating.
Today, and for generations, Chevsl Blanc has been one of the world’s great wines. As a matter of style, it’s an incredible tasting experience.
If you have the money, and the patience, it’s about as well-priced as it’s going to get.
That being said, as you mentioned you could buy multiple bottles, why not buy, and try a Cheval with bottle age so you know what it’s like, and if it’s worth buying cellaring?
2001 could be the best deal for Cheval today, for a bit more, 98 is even better, but it’s more money.
It sounds like you’re weighing a balance between a good deal, long-term potential, and personal enjoyment. Here’s how I’d break it down:
The Deal Itself:
Pricing: If the wine is truly at $600, and WS lists it at $900, you’re getting a notable discount. The fact that it’s $600 and not an auction price also makes it easier to buy with confidence—no bidding wars or uncertainty about condition.
Aging Potential: Bordeaux from a strong vintage (like 2019) with 20+ years of aging potential is a solid bet if you’re thinking long-term. Even if the market doesn’t explode, you’ll likely still have a very enjoyable wine in 10-20 years.
Investment vs. Enjoyment:
Flipping Potential: If you’re hoping for a big return, it’s worth noting that selling wine, even high-end Bordeaux, can be tricky. Fine wine markets are niche, and liquidity can be low, especially for single bottles. In the end, it’s hard to predict how demand will shift for specific wines.
Personal Enjoyment: If you’re just buying it to enjoy down the line, then it’s more of a luxury purchase, which can still make sense. You’re paying for the experience of having a rare and well-regarded wine in your collection. Bordeaux of this caliber ages beautifully, and you could enjoy it years down the road even if you’re not flipping it for profit.
Price Considerations:
Opportunity Cost: Sure, you could buy multiple bottles of great wine for $600, but this is a unique bottle with aging potential that may eventually become scarce. If you’re ok with paying a premium for that possibility and the experience, it could be worthwhile.
Storage Fees: Since you’re using a professional storage facility, the cost of storage (usually around $100-$200/year) won’t eat into your margin too much, but it’s something to keep in mind for long-term holdings.
Emotional Factors:
Risk Tolerance: The fact that you’re intrigued by this opportunity suggests you’re willing to take a chance. You’ve already identified it’s something you could afford, but also recognize the risk of it not being a great investment. If you’re comfortable with that, and the price doesn’t push you beyond your means, the potential reward is there, but so is the peace of mind in knowing you could hold the bottles for your own future enjoyment.
Bottom Line:
If you have a genuine interest in Bordeaux, the enjoyment of having a bottle like this in your collection for future occasions, and you’re comfortable with the risk and storage costs, this seems like a smart purchase—especially considering the price. It’s a good deal if you’re buying for personal enjoyment, and while there’s a chance the value could increase, it’s not the primary reason to buy it.
If you’re purely concerned about flipping for profit, the market is unpredictable and selling years down the line might be trickier than it seems.
In short: If it’s for enjoyment, it’s a solid buy. If it’s an investment first and foremost, you may want to carefully consider the long-term logistics of selling it down the road.
$600 for one bottle of wine is not a good deal. This will not be a good investment if you wanted to resell it, and there are countless wines out there well under $600 that you will almost certainly enjoy more than this wine
You probably have a lot of money. There isn’t a single bottle of wine in the world that I would pay $600 for. OP said that they have never spent that much money on a bottle of wine and I am not here to encourage them to do so. The vast majority of the world’s fine wines are much less than $600, and no one needs to be spending that much money to enjoy world class wine.
Well, you haven’t said what the wine is. Seems others have surmised it’s 2019 Cheval? Taking your various rationalizations one by one,
The average price doesn’t make a difference - how much below the best price are you getting it? Is it still that great a deal? There are a bunch of WS listings for '19 Cheval in the $600s.
Extremely unlikely the increase in value over time will beat even a conservative index fund
Quick WS check says the youngest Cheval to reach $1k a bottle is the 2009. So you’d be looking at around 10 years to see $600 realize $400 less a sales commission. Again, you’re better off in the stock market.
doesn’t sound like such a great deal. Not a bad one but hardly a rare opportunity.
I doubt it - 10 years on this is just enough to land square in the middle of its closed period. 20 is more like it, but still just getting started.
I’m not very inclined to conflate a high sticker price with notions of moral rectitude. While it is true that no one “needs” to spend $600 for a bottle of wine, if that’s a reasonable outlay for the OP, that’s the salient consideration. The limits other people set on their wine purchases are their business, but no one else needs to be held to them.
That said, Bordeaux doesn’t appreciate as much anymore, unfortunately, as that future appreciation tends to be priced in to the release price. Factoring in storage costs, transaction costs and market volatility, it’s not a great investment if the primary intention is future sales. I would also caution against using WS averages - the only price that matters is the lowest available.
The advice above isn’t universal - if you got allocation pricing on certain bottles of Burgundy, I might well advise the other way. However, gauging attractive prices for investing in wine isn’t something I’d advise without a lot of experience.