CorkonomicsThe economics of wine production, collection, and vineyards
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Vineyard land · Pauillac≈$2,798,250 a hectare▼ down 17% on 20232024Opening price · Château Lafite Rothschild 2025≈$376 a bottle▲ up 17% on the year beforeSold at auction · Romanée-Conti Grand Cru, DRC 2019$22,917 a bottleSotheby's, Sep 2026Cost to make one bottle · Burgundy grand cru (Pinot Noir)$48–283US duty on wine from · Canada+50%since Aug 2026Everyday bottle in a US shop$13.77 a litre▼ down 1.3% in a yearSep 2026Vineyard land · Margaux≈$1,567,020 a hectare▼ down 7% on 20232024Opening price · Château Cheval Blanc 2025≈$376 a bottle▲ up 22% on the year beforeSold at auction · La Tâche Grand Cru, DRC 2018$5,417 a bottleSotheby's, Sep 2026Cost to make one bottle · Champagne prestige cuvée$26–89US duty on wine from · Australia+12.5%since Jul 2026Vineyard land · Côte-Rôtie≈$1,511,055 a hectare▲ up 8% on 20232024Opening price · Château Mouton Rothschild 2025≈$336 a bottle▲ up 19% on the year beforeSold at auction · Richebourg Grand Cru, DRC 2012$3,542 a bottleSotheby's, Sep 2026Cost to make one bottle · Bordeaux classified growth (2nd–5th)$17–61US duty on wine from · New Zealand+12.5%since Jul 2026Vineyard land · Côte de Nuits grand cru≈$7,275,450 a hectare2019Opening price · Château Palmer 2025≈$268 a bottle▼ down 19% on the year beforeVineyard land · Pomerol≈$2,238,600 a hectare2023
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Château Palmer 1996

1996 was an excellent year in Bordeaux, just a step below the very best.

Save · All vintages of Château Palmer · Compare

Château Palmer, Margaux
PA · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

What to expect

Expect a ripe, well-balanced wine with a long life ahead of it.

5 of the 29 years we cover for this wine were rated higher.

A glass of red wine on a stone balustrade in front of a country house and vineyards
The year
Excellent
Last sold at auction for
≈$303a bottle · Christie's, Oct 2024

Other vintages of this wine

One square for each year. The darker the square, the better the weather was for the grapes. Tap a year to read about it.

202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996
ExceptionalExcellentVery goodGoodMixedDifficult

What bottles sell for

At auction, standard bottles of this vintage have sold for between ≈$262 and ≈$303 each, across 2 sales since June 2023.

Every sale on record7 lots, each linked to the auction house
Sale dateHouse and saleFormatLot pricePer bottle
May 2026Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Los Angeles Edition (sale 24553) · Los Angeles · lot 772 × 75 cl$562$281
Oct 2024Christie'sFine and Rare Wines & Spirits Online: London Edition (sale 23031) · London · lot 5726 × 75 cl≈$1,819≈$303
Jun 2023Christie'sThe Two Continents Collection - The Private Cellar of Irwin Kotovsky Online: Part II (sale 21935) · London · lot 19512 × 75 cl≈$3,142≈$262
Nov 2022Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Geneva Edition (sale 20946) · Geneva · lot 26012 × 75 cl≈$3,611≈$301
May 2022Christie'sFine and Rare Wines & Spirits Online: The Geneva Edit (sale 20939) · Geneva · lot 5476 × 150 cl≈$4,213≈$702
May 2022Christie'sTHE VISIONARY'S SPECTACULAR CELLAR (sale 21212) · Hong Kong · lot 51399 × 75 cl≈$2,549≈$283
May 2022Christie'sTHE VISIONARY'S SPECTACULAR CELLAR (sale 21212) · Hong Kong · lot 513812 × 75 cl≈$3,186≈$265
 Prices are in the currency of each sale. Christie’s and Sotheby’s include the buyer’s fee; Hart Davis Hart shows the price before it.

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What does this wine cost to make?Our estimate: $17–$61 a bottle

We estimate it costs about $17 to $61 to make one bottle of a wine like this. The price in the shop is far higher because the land is scarce, the name is famous, and many hands take a share on the way to you.

Low estimateImputed land cost: $4.35Vineyard operations: $2.54Oak barrels: $0.43Winemaking labour and cellar work: $2.00Cellar aging: $1.04Bottle, closure, label, case and bottling: $3.90Winery overhead: $2.00Financing over the aging period: $0.85$17 per bottleHigh estimateImputed land cost: $25.08Vineyard operations: $6.84Oak barrels: $1.40Winemaking labour and cellar work: $4.00Cellar aging: $2.56Bottle, closure, label, case and bottling: $10.40Winery overhead: $5.00Financing over the aging period: $6.19$61 per bottleImputed land costVineyard operationsOak barrelsWinemaking labour and cellar workCellar agingBottle, closure, label, case and bottlingWinery overheadFinancing over the aging periodUS$ per 75 cl bottle at the winery, before any margin, tax or transport · Corkonomics cost model

See the full breakdown

Last reviewed: September 2026Report an error on this page