On the other hand, both regions added wine estates to this year’s top 100 – two from California and one from the Rhône.
Despite the new additions, many of California’s leading labels slipped in the rankings this year, with Screaming Eagle falling nine places. The high prices of top Napa Valley wines mean they score highly when it comes to trade by value and average case price. But they have fewer wines trading, volumes are low and, again compared to other regions, their price performance is not as high. Nonetheless, Harlan Estate climbed 26 places. Scarecrow and Hundred Acre both saw big jumps into the top 100 as well – both returning after a long hiatus.
Despite only having five wines in the top 100, the Rhône enjoyed quite a bit of success. Jean-Louis Chave dropped 26 places but the other four wines all rose.
These included Château Rayas, back into the top 100 with a jump of 55 places thanks to a strong average trade price and price performance.
The top-ranked Rhône label was Michel Chapoutier which, like Guigal, can offer a multitude of different wines thanks to its hybrid estate-négociant business model.
© Photo: Wikipedia - Stan Shebs