The 1989 Lynch Bages Price Index

[JimHow]

This wine used to go for like $35 back in the day. When I started buying it in the late 1990s it was up in the $65-75 range.
Now the average price per wine searcher is $496. Where will it go from here, and what does it mean for world wine markets?
What does it mean for world financial markets?

[Nicklasss]

I don't understand why you complain, you are one of the main responsible for that...

[DavidG]

LOL Nic, credit where credit is due.

That, and the presentation on silk sheets.

[Blanquito]

LOL Nic, credit where credit is due.

That, and the presentation on silk sheets.

For sure! You can imagine Jim snuggling up with those bottles for a little pillow talk.

[JimHow]

Ha, those are the three bottles Michael picked up for me that I "won" at a K&L auction for $405 each.
I thought I overpaid but now I'm seeing this puppy going up in the $600 range.
Just a couple years ago I offered Mike $250 per bottle for his owc case, he was wise to hold it.

[Nicklasss]

LOL Nic, credit where credit is due.

That, and the presentation on silk sheets.

For sure! You can imagine Jim snuggling up with those bottles for a little pillow talk.

[JimHow]

They are more like gold bullion.

[Comte Flaneur]

I first drank this wine in February 1995 in a restaurant in Vail Colorado called Sweet Basil…pronounced locally Sweet Baiz-el rather than Sweet Bazzle the way we Brits would pronounce it. I ordered the 1989 Lynch off the list for the princely sum of $65. It was young but magnificent, before its closed down phase. My fellow skiers were most impressed by it.

Of course how much of the production of 1989 Lynch is either a) still circulating or b) sitting in people’s cellars having not been drunk yet? I would wager only a tiny fraction, which means the price will continue to rise.

But maybe the 2019 is the heir apparent to the legendary 1989? Maybe we should take a look at it in March? I have a lot of it in half bottles.

[JimHow]

But maybe the 2019 is the heir apparent to the legendary 1989? Maybe we should take a look at it in March? I have a lot of it in half bottles.

I like it. Man, I had a chance to get the 2019 Lynch for under $90 early on in the Zachy's pre arrival campaign but I passed, thinking they'd be available in NH, like they always are... except for this year.

[DavidG]

Of course how much of the production of 1989 Lynch is either a) still circulating or b) sitting in people’s cellars having not been drunk yet? I would wager only a tiny fraction, which means the price will continue to rise.

CellarTracker is but a subset of all bottles produced, but here is the status of those bottles of 1989 Lynch Bages:

Community holdings: 17,980

• Pending delivery (1%) - 125

• In cellars (67%) - 11,910

• Consumed (33%) - 5,855

I’m personally responsible for 36 of those bottles, and have had a hand in helping to consume a number of others people have brought to dinners or tastings. My consumption patter is the reverse of the CT hive, with 2/3 drunk and 1/3 still chillin’ downstairs.

Jim owed me a bottle based on our bet on the last Presidential election, but we went double or nothing on whether a certain former guy would be in the Oval Office come January 2024. Look at it this way Jim: a small price to pay for freedom.

[jal]

A quick search shows a total production of 35,000 cases so 420,000 bottles.
Not that scarce...
And strange as it may seem, the 1990 is even more expensive.

[JoelD]

Jim owed me a bottle based on our bet on the last Presidential election, but we went double or nothing on whether a certain former guy would be in the Oval Office come January 2024. Look at it this way Jim: a small price to pay for freedom.

I love bets like this. Jim bet on Orange to make it back into office this next go around? Did he bet against the field or vs Biden straight up? What happens if a third party wins?

[JimHow]

I'll have to check with my fellow lawyers here and I don't do contract law but if I remember from first semester of law school, an illegal bet is voidable due to its illegality under contract law. Perhaps I'll have to check with the internationally renowned lawyer and philanthropist Jimmy "L.B." How....

[JimHow]

On the other hand, I think I have an equitable claim to half of MichaelP's case as I have contributed to its doubling in market value in just the last few years alone through the influence of BWE.

[JimHow]

I think Bordeaux pricing should be based on a "gold standard" based on the market of 1989 Chateau Lynch Bages.
There may be all kinds of crypto-currency-like shenanigans in the market, but we have a "gold standard" in '89 Lynch.
This is no Bitcoin, Bankman-Fried, nonsense.
I'm taking about establishing a benchmark. An index. A standard.
Based on experience. And credibility. Much of it established here on BWE. After literally decades, now, of holding up to immense scrutiny.
And, frankly, the markets have borne me out, after, I must say, not without a significant amount of skepticism and grief right here on my own beloved BWE. There have been legendary blind tastings against the Purple Baron of '89.
Don't count on Robert Parker, if anything, he created INstability. He rated this puppy at 93 points along the way.
No, Parker is not stability, he is 1980s America greed-is-good go-go-go Instability.
But that's ok. That's all part of making the sausage, part of the chaos of the markets, which congeal back, over time....
1989 Lynch Bages has the full faith and credit of Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts. 'Nuff said.
In the end, in other words...

A 1989 Chateau Lynch Bages Price Index.

[SF Ed]

Jim - a bunch of folks in London have been thinking like you.

https://www.liv-ex.com/news-insights/indices/

Check out the Bordeaux 500 and the Bordeaux Legends 40

SF Ed

[JimHow]

Ha very interesting indeed, Ed.
You know, the epiphany hit me when I looked at those three bottles in the (not silk) Hilton hotel sheets.
They were bullion-like!
Something, like you might store in a safe deposit box, like gold bullion.
I'm sure all the London financial retirement account guys have already figured all of this out.

[JoelD]

I'll have to check with my fellow lawyers here and I don't do contract law but if I remember from first semester of law school, an illegal bet is voidable due to its illegality under contract law. Perhaps I'll have to check with the internationally renowned lawyer and philanthropist Jimmy "L.B." How....

I certainly like both of your arguments, but I'm still missing my clarification on exactly what the bet was? More curiosity than anything because I love wagers of this nature.

On another note. I know this is blasphemy but I may prefer the 1985 lynch over the 1989. Especially when price is factored as I've loaded up on them recently after trying my first 1985 in April. The subtleties of the 85 win out over the masculine 89 for me. But I haven't had them anywhere close to as many times as you all have. The 1986 was also quite nice recently but a peg below those two.

[JimHow]

It’s ok to like the 1985 Lynch, Joel, that’s certainly a great wine. It was one of Jimmy Suckling’s favorites, a former Wine Spectator wine of the year, which undoubtedly accounts for its higher prices and attracts financially savvy guys like you.

Lynch Bages is like the Kennedy administration, or the overlapping Apollo space program. Its greatness is a moment in time. A period of Camelot. The flame of Lynch Bages began to ember in the late 70s, built with the 81/82/83 vintages, and then exploded as Jean Michel Cazes realized the greatness of the terroir. By the end of 1990 it was all over, as quick as it came. Sure there were a few flashes in 1991, 1994, 1995, and 1996, and then the B+ effort in 2000, but since then there has not been much to show. GPL-like.

Ask me tomorrow and I might give you a different answer, but if pressed tonight I would rank Lynch Bages vintages as follows:

1989
1988
1982
1986
1983
1985
1996
1990
2000
1995
1991
1994
1981
1978
2002

[JimHow]

Some of the worst Lynch ever was 98, 99, and 01, vintages in which it should have at least been respectable. By then the Parker influence had overtaken.

[Gerry M.]

Jeez I have 7 bottles left of a case I bought at auction in March of 2017 for $280/btl. What seemed like over paying at the time looks like a bargain now. All 5 have been outstanding.

[JimHow]

Yeah I hear you Gerry. I remember buying a 3L of 1989 Lynch Bages from Premier Cru for $600, which at the time was the most I'd ever spent on a bottle of wine. Now 750s have been nipping at the $600 figure and I predict by year's end they will be entrenched there.

[Nicklasss]

I would say that the 3 best Lynch are surely 1989, 1982 and 1988.

1985, 1986 and 1990 are excellent too. Had the 2000 three times, and liked it a lot 2 times over 3.

1983 is a surprising one, and the 1970 and 1978 are more old style, but satisfying too.

[DavidG]

Jim owed me a bottle based on our bet on the last Presidential election, but we went double or nothing on whether a certain former guy would be in the Oval Office come January 2024. Look at it this way Jim: a small price to pay for freedom.

I love bets like this. Jim bet on Orange to make it back into office this next go around? Did he bet against the field or vs Biden straight up? What happens if a third party wins?

Jim and I wagered a bottle of 89 Lynch on whether TFG would get as many electoral votes in 2020 as he did in 2016. When he lost that bet we went double or nothing on whether TFG would be President in January 2025, by hook, crook, election, or insurrection.

I don't know nuttin about all dem fancy lawerly words, but if he wants to cancel he ain't gotta get him a suit case, he just gotta say so.

[JimHow]

Lol...
Of course the loser has to drink his winnings with the winner... in this nation of laws, this scepter'd corner of the internet, this BWE...

[DavidG]

Lol...
Of course the loser has to drink his winnings with the winner... in this nation of laws, this scepter'd corner of the internet, this BWE...

Absolutely, that’s a given!

[Musigny 151]

I wrote an article many moons ago comparing the cost of a filet mignon for two to a current vintage of Lynch. Article long since disappeared but at the time, around 1994, Lynch was $45 and the filet $28.

[Blanquito]

I’ve had the 83 Lynch 8-9 times over the last decade plus and it has always been terrific 93-pt range. I’ve bought and rebought it numerous times (I still have a bunch in the cellar) as the market has never seemed to realize or price-in how good the 83s are (true of the vintage in general outside of a handful of very pricey 83s).

The 86 Lynch that Jacques brought to a denver tasting a few years ago also was spectacular, in the 94-95 pt range.

[DavidG]

Patrick, my ‘83 Lynch is the ‘88. Bought a bunch on release because it was our wedding year and have gone back again and again to refill. It’s turned out better than expected. Snagged a bunch at what seemed like a good price back in 2020, but this thread made me look back to what it cost on release in 1991: $20!

[JimHow]

Average US price of Lynch Bages now at $508 per Wine Searcher...

[Blanquito]

Average US price of Lynch Bages now at $508 per Wine Searcher...

W… T… F… (f = fudge, for the 6 year old lurking on the site).

[Blanquito]

Patrick, my ‘83 Lynch is the ‘88. Bought a bunch on release because it was our wedding year and have gone back again and again to refill. It’s turned out better than expected. Snagged a bunch at what seemed like a good price back in 2020, but this thread made me look back to what it cost on release in 1991: $20!

I’ll bring an 83 if you bring an 88!

(Next time our paths cross)

[JimHow]

Back down to $490 average price in the US, MichaelP, with the shaky economy I suggest you accept my standing offer of $250 now before it is too late.

[ericp]

Pretty good offerJim . I’ve got a mag hiding for a milestone bday or anniversary at some point as the pricing continues to get nuttier.

Love the 88 as well David, been a few years since had it - I suspect it’s still in a great place.

[JimHow]

Well done, EP. Checked the label on the 1989 Lynch tonight... 12.5%.... That's crazy, yo.

[ericp]

Geez, when was the last time we consistently saw a vintage in the 12-13% range.

[JimHow]

Good question! 1995-1996?

[JoelD]

Geez, when was the last time we consistently saw a vintage in the 12-13% range.

Just from Lynch Bages or Bordeaux in general? I've seen some 13.0 as recently as 2006 I would say and possibly up to 2014 here and there. 2005, 2009, 2010 generally excluded. 2000-2004 has a fair amount of 13.0 as well. Now 12.5 or lower is the catch. 95-96 is probably a good guess for when we consistently saw it. But I've definitely seen a few 2000's in that range. 2000 d'Issan comes to mind. Lovely wine.

[DavidG]

Patrick, my ‘83 Lynch is the ‘88. Bought a bunch on release because it was our wedding year and have gone back again and again to refill. It’s turned out better than expected. Snagged a bunch at what seemed like a good price back in 2020, but this thread made me look back to what it cost on release in 1991: $20!

I’ll bring an 83 if you bring an 88!

(Next time our paths cross)

Deal!

[marcs]

I just bid $300/bottle for two bottles of 1989 Lynch bages, purely for BWE related reasons, and was immediately outbid. They went for $420 each.