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 2020

2020 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
Price when new
≈$269+49.1% on the 2019

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

2020 at the neighbours

What similar wines nearby asked for the same year. Tap one to read about it.

Compare side by side

More about the yearThe harvest, the blend and the first price
Price when new
≈$269'issued its first allocation of 2020s for €240 per bottle, ex-négociant, up 49%'Wine Spectator, 2021-05-20
First US shop price
$342 in 2021Wine Spectator, 2021-05-20
Average US shop price
$373 in 2023Wine Spectator, 2023-06-15
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