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 2021

2021 was a mixed year in Bordeaux. Some estates did well and others struggled.

Save · All vintages of Château Palmer · Compare

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

What to expect

Frost, mildew and a cool summer; variable quality and small crops. Quality varied from estate to estate, so the name on the label matters more than usual.

24 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
Mixed
Price when new
≈$2690.0% on the 2020
Last sold at auction for
≈$138a bottle · Christie's, Oct 2025

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

One sale of standard bottles is on record: ≈$138 a bottle in October 2025.

Every sale on record1 lots, each linked to the auction house
Sale dateHouse and saleFormatLot pricePer bottle
Oct 2025Christie'sAn Impeccable Private Collection Purchased on Release (sale 23894) · London · lot 29112 × 75 cl≈$1,654≈$138
 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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2021 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'released its 2021 futures at €240 per bottle ex-négociant, identical to 2020'Wine Spectator, 2022-05-20
First US shop price
$316 in 2022Wine Spectator, 2022-05-20
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

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Last reviewed: September 2026Report an error on this page