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Article - Champagne - 19. November 2021
Investment In 2008 Champagne: How Did It Go And What Does The Future Look Like?
Investing in 2008 Champagne has so far been a great investment for Champagne investors - but it is far from over.
A Monumental Vintage
Both as Champagne lovers and portfolio managers, we have had our sights set on the 2008 vintage of Champagne for several years now. First with enthusiastic expectations based on the ongoing reports from the producers' cellars and since then the ongoing releases that have fully met expectations - both in terms of how successful these young Champagnes are, but certainly also the investment potential.
The 2008 vintage is in the same class as legendary vintages such as the 1996 and 1988. Nevertheless, and despite these historic vintages, the 2008 vintage is recognised by many as the absolute greatest. One thing, at least, is indisputable: The 2008 vintage is an icon and will be a benchmark vintage, becoming one of the great Champagne treasures of the future. To the delight of Champagne lovers and investors alike.
Video: 2008 Champagne - Performance & Expectations
How The 2008 Champagnes Have Performed So Far
From their release, the 2008 Champagnes have all represented great potential, with the long-term upside particularly interesting, as price increases have historically been greatest as Champagne matures and supply declines. Nevertheless, now, more than three years after the first great cuvées began to hit the market, it is relevant to review the situation and see how they have performed in the short term.
Below, we have compiled the 2008 Champagne cases we have recommended, from the first time we offered them:
| DATE OF INVESTMENT TIP | WINE | PRICE INCREASE SINCE RECOMMENDATION |
|---|---|---|
| 18. September 2018 | 2008 Cristal | 25,0% |
| 18. September 2018 | 2008 Cristal Rosé MAG | 20,0% |
| 13. October 2018 | 2008 Philipponnat Clos des Goises | 5,5% |
| 14. November 2018 | 2008 Dom Pérignon Legacy | 21,6% |
| 17. December 2018 | 2008 Pol Roger Winston Churchill | 6,1% |
| 17. December 2018 | 2008 Pol Roger Winston Churchill MAG | 25,0% |
| 9. January 2019 | 2008 Dom Pérignon | 42,3% |
| 28. March 2019 | 2008 Belle Epoque | 23,0% |
| 28. March2019 | 2008 Belle Epoque MAG | 18,5% |
| 14. June 2019 | 2008 Veuve Clicquot | 5,6% |
| 14. June 2019 | 2008 Veuve Clicquot MAG | 23,5% |
| 14. June 2019 | 2008 Möet & Chandon | 16,7% |
| 5. September 2019 | 2008 Bollinger Grande Année | 33,3% |
| 18. October 2019 | 2008 Salon Oenotheque Case | 8,9% |
In short: the 2008 Champagnes have had a flying start to their life cycle, but all historical experience with Champagne awards suggests that we still have the big fireworks to come.
What Have Been The Challenges?
On the negative side, there are also challenges worth mentioning in relation to the 2008 Champagnes. For like any relationship can sometimes be a little bumpy, relationships with some of the great 2008 Champagnes have also seen some headwinds:
As with any new, hyped Champagne release, quantities are in short supply and the fear of missing out is intense. This can result in prices being traded up. Therefore, if you want to secure the goods, you must pay the particular price.
This was very much the case for Louis Roederer's Cristal and Moët & Chandon's Dom Pérignon and the special edition of the latter: Legacy Edition.
Expectations and hype here reached higher than has probably ever been experienced in the wine world, with soaring trade prices immediately following release. But the hype faded after a while and the overheated Cristal and Dom Pérignon markets cooled down and prices dropped to what was now probably a natural level.
For Cristal investors, this meant that those who were first to invest in September 2018 bought in at € 200*. 2008 Cristal reached its bottom in January 2020 with a price of € 175*. Today, however, the price is € 250*.
For 2008 Dom Pérignon and Dom Pérignon Legacy Edition, the case is roughly the same. For example, in November 2018, a Legacy Edition cost € 185*. The bottom was also hit in January 2020 with a price of € 145. The case is roughly the same for the regular 2008 Dom Pérignon.
However, investors who invested in 2008 Cristal, Dom Pérignon and Dom Pérignon Legacy Edition respectively have seen returns of between 21-42% since then, and more importantly; secured volumes. What these three cases also have in common is that many investors have since missed the opportunity due to lack of supply.
Has The 2008 Train Left The Station?
Although almost all 2008 investors have seen some very nice short-term returns on young wines, it is by no means too late to invest in 2008 Champagne, although it is undeniably only getting harder and harder to find.
The wines are still young, and as mentioned earlier, history shows that the biggest price increases have been in the long run, as the wine matures to its optimum while available quantities dwindle.
But there are even still 2008 Champagnes that have either just been released or are yet to be released, which by their nature also represent great potential.
2008 Krug Vintage has almost just hit the market during a Cristal-like euphoria. We are keeping a close eye on this and will offer it as soon as we can offer it at the best possible price.
But of the big ones, we also still have some 2008 stars to come. This applies, for example, to Dom Pérignon Rosé, Krug’s single vineyard Champagner Clos du Mesnil and Clos d’Ambonnay and Bollinger’s late disgorging called R.D. - three Champagnes that will undoubtedly also attract large amounts of attention and will be extremely attractive investment cases.
We are constantly on the hunt for 2008 Champagnes, but of course we also have our eyes on the upcoming releases.
There is still a great investment potential in the top Champagne from the already legendary vintage 2008.
Are you interested in learning more about the 2008 vintage or your investment options.