The Cavex platform has seen buyers flocking back in their numbers this past week. As a result, overall bidding activity has grown by 18%, up to £3.44 million, taking total Cavex positions past £5 million for the first time to £5.37million. This increase in bidding activity has additionally taken the bid to offer ratio up to 1.78:1.

Whilst a dip in activity was expected with the mid-autumn festival deadline for collections approaching, the market only experienced a minor pause. Bids have continued to build strongly, primarily for Bordeaux, but interest in Burgundy and CNDP’s has also been increasing.

A trend that has been emerging over the past few weeks is that buyers are now bidding in quantity, showing that at a given price level there are buyers willing to take stock on board. Particularly in Asia, the strengthening of currency against Sterling has no doubt helped.

Following Robert Parker’s re-scoring of the 2003 vintage, it was no surprise to see increased activity for wines of said year. Mouton 2003, although receiving a down grade from 95+ to 91 points, has traded up slightly, albeit by 0.3% but continues to get strong bids at the £3k mark. The revised scores for Chateau Montrose saw immediate trading of multiple vintages with the 2003 at £1,430 and the 2010 trading at £1,585, falling slightly during the week to £1,540 as the dust settled.

Other notable trades from the week saw increased trading in the Bordeaux 2008 vintage with Cos d’Estournel 08 at £665, up 7.4% since August, Leoville Barton 08 at £400, up 2.6% since March and a big climb for Pontet Canet 08, up 14.6% since July to £550.

Whilst First Growths made up the majority of trades during the summer months, they’ve been taking somewhat of a back seat this past fortnight. In the background however, there has been quiet activity with Lafite 2008 trading up 3.1% to £4,950 and Margaux 2005 also climbing up 7.8% to £4,850 both from late July’s previous trades.

Sellers this week have been adding some great Burgundy wines from Domaines such as Bonneau du Martray, Dujac, Hudelot Noellat, Leflaive and Rossignol Trapet. Some great drinking wines are also on offer from the likes of Rotllan Tora’s Amadis 2001 for £100, La Confession 2004 at £200 IB and for the Champagne buyer, a great offer of Salon Mesnil 1999 in bottles and magnums. Be sure to check out all hot bids and offers currently live on the Cavex platform on the below links.

Lastly, we’re delighted to share that Cavex has been in the press this week, appearing in Decanter’s October 2014 issue. We’re delighted to be compared analytically with our peers and that after an 18 month journey, we’re achieving our goal which was to offer the most transparent and profitable platform for private and trade clients to buy and sell wine. We would not have reached this goal without our valued members and we sincerely thank you for continued support.

Enjoy your week.

Steve, Daniel, Simon & Jean