2018 Bouchard Corton-Charlemagne | A White Rarity At A Favourable Price

“This is an easy one. Collectors would sell their souls for just one sip of Montrachet; for a few bottles of Domaine de Chevalier, they'd condescend to lend you the Porsche. For an hour. Indeed, Burgundy's global cachet is unparalleled and seemingly immutable, which is why the category's near-hegemonic grip over the secondary market is in no danger of slipping.”

-Wine-searcher.com

The above quote perfectly frames this investment opportunity, and 'this is an easy one' refers to whether there is more prestige in white Burgundy or white Bordeaux. The answer is white Burgundy. White Burgundy is also an extremely rare guest at RareWine Invest - this is only the third time in 2023 that white Burgundy is on the agenda - simply because there are so few quantities of the very best - and because there is a demand for the quantities that do exist.

Here you have the opportunity to invest in 2018 Bouchard Corton-Charlemagne, whose predecessors have delivered outstanding returns and thus set the standard.

Bouchard Pére et Fils - Powerful Burgundy Dynasty With Formidable Returns

Since Michel Bouchard founded what would become one of the Cote d'Or's largest landowners - Bouchard Pére et Fils - in 1731, the domain has built a fantastic reputation. Not just in Burgundy, but all over the world. They have done so by delivering consistent quality - whatever the wine, whatever the vintage.

It is worth pointing out that Bouchard Pére et Fils has been on the famous Power 100 list 9 out of 10 releases over the past ten years. The list is published annually by the British wine exchange Liv-ex, and it presents the 100 strongest brands in the wine market in the past year. The ranking on the list is numerical and is awarded based on various criteria, including most traded wines in terms of both value and volume. In the 2022 list, Bouchard ranks 20th, which only emphasises the house's inherent quality, reputation, and demand.

In addition: According to Liv-ex, the last 10 vintages^* of Bouchard Corton-Charlemagne, which have been on the market for five years, have yielded an average return of 120.9%, which equates to an average annual return of 17.1%. There is continuous demand for white Burgundy from Bouchard Pére et Fils.

*Vintage 2007-2016.

Artemis Has Also Recognised The Potential Of Bouchard Pére et Fils

For almost 270 years, Bouchard Pére et Fils remained a family-owned business, but in 1995 the scenario changed significantly when the Henriot family stepped in and acquired the domain. With this, Bouchard became part of the Maisons & Domaines Henriot group, which also includes reputable names such as Champagne Henriot and Beaux Freres (an American wine producer located in Oregon, USA).

However, in September 2022, it was announced that French private equity fund and luxury giant Artémis secured a significant stake in Maisons & Domaines Henriot. This acquisition added Henriot and Bouchard to an already impressive portfolio that also includes recognised wine houses such as Chateau Latour and Clos de Tart.

Artémis is actively looking for companies with potential for growth and development with the aim of generating profits and satisfying shareholders. The expectation is that Artémis will bring capital, expertise, and a comprehensive marketing structure to both Maisons & Domaines Henriot and Bouchard. This journey represents a unique opportunity to be part of an exciting development in the wine world, where tradition meets modernity and where wine knowledge meets business strategy.

The World's Best White Wine Vineyards: Montrachet & Corton Charlemagne

There is no doubt that the best appellations for white Burgundy, and therefore the world's best white wine, include Montrachet and Corton-Charlemagne, which is why the very name of the place brings immanent demand. The overall Corton-Charlemagne appellation is 71.8 hectares in size, of which Bouchard has 3.65 hectares, from which they are allowed to produce a maximum of 23,360 bottles per vintage, which of course can in no way meet the demand for white Burgundy Grand Cru.

2018 Bouchard Pére et Fils receives 90 points from Vinous, 93 points from Wine Advocate and 92 points from Burgundy expert Burghound. It is worth pointing out here that Burghound has also awarded a so-called barrel score of 91-93 points to the 2019 Bouchard Corton Charlemagne, which represents the extremely critically acclaimed vintage in Burgundy. The 2019 Bouchard Corton-Charlemagne is currently priced at €175^* - almost 10% more than the 2018 vintage. Furthermore, 2020 Bouchard Corton-Charlemagne scores 91-94 points from Burghound and is more than 15 % more expensive. So, the 2018 vintage offers value-for-money.

*Ex. Duty, tax, and VAT, in whole cases and perfect condition.

Let Us Take A Moment To Dwell On The Price

Besides a somewhat dubious offer on wine-searcher.com, your investment price of €160^* is currently the cheapest on the platform. 2023 has brought some price corrections in the wine industry. And although Bouchard Corton-Charlemagne does not represent the staggeringly high price level (quite the contrary, in fact), the corrections have also affected the price a bit here. It thus offers an interesting entry point for investing in high-profile white Burgundy.

Back in December 2022, you could invest in 2018 Bouchard Corton-Charlemagne for €165 - and even though the price is now €5 lower than the last time we had 2018 Bouchard Corton-Charlemagne for investment, it is still a case we firmly believe in. The premise for investment is exactly the same - except that you can now get in at a slightly cheaper price. The potential still lies ahead.

Read our latest analysis of the wine market: Analyzing The Fine Wine Market: Navigating Value And Realities

*Ex. Duty, tax, and VAT, in whole cases and perfect condition.

2021 Burgundy: First Come, First Served

Although white Burgundy is a rarity in itself, there is another fact that can prove significant when it comes to investing in this particular category. With the 2021 vintage in Burgundy, rarity is a given, and there are reports of up to 80% losses, especially for Chardonnay, due to an unexpected spring frost that destroyed a large part of the vines.

"According to Liv-ex, the UK's equivalent of a wine exchange, low yields are forcing producers to push up prices to cover their costs. This results in release prices approaching +25% on average. Top names are said to be released later than usual, giving producers more time to decide on distribution and pricing. While Burgundy's best wines are rare in their own right, the 2021 vintage is a rare treat."

The above quote comes from the article: 2021 Burgundy - Rarity Is A Given

Because the quantities of white Burgundy in 2021 are so scarce and release prices are expected to be higher than usual, there will be a natural search for older vintages where the price is still at a lower level - in other words, the key is to get your hands on the quantities that are actually available.

RareWine Invest's Opinion

White Burgundy Grand Cru is a rarity and if it has age, well, it is extremely expensive. Add to this the prospect of an extremely low supply of the 2021 releases, which will only create even more scarcity of the available quantities, as the supply will be inherently smaller than the market is used to... Along with Montrachet, Corton-Charlemagne is the crown jewel at Bouchard Pére et Fils, and when it comes to white Burgundy, we are at the top of the hierarchy.

Extremely strong historical returns show that there is demand for Bouchard, and with a player like Artemis leading the charge, there is no limit to how much energy and love will be put into promoting the domain - to the investor's benefit, of course.

This also offers a favourable entry price on your white Burgundy investment. We expect a lot of interest in this, so as always, it is first come, first served.