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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Louis Roederer Cristal 2012

2012 was an excellent year in Champagne, just a step below the very best.

Save · All vintages of Louis Roederer Cristal · Compare

Aerial view of the Phare de Verzenay among the Champagne vineyards of the Montagne de Reims in autumn
Cristian · Adobe Stock · Adobe Stock Standard License

What to expect

Frost, hail and a wet spring cut yields; a small crop of high quality. Expect a ripe, well-balanced wine with a long life ahead of it.

2 of the 12 years we cover for this wine were rated higher.

A glass of golden sparkling wine on a marble mantelpiece in front of a gilt mirror
The year
Excellent
Last sold at auction for
≈$234a bottle · Christie's, Sep 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.

201620152014201320122009200820072006200520042002
ExceptionalExcellentVery goodGoodMixedDifficult

What bottles sell for

At auction, standard bottles of this vintage have sold for between ≈$184 and ≈$276 each, across 14 sales since April 2023.

Every sale on record23 lots, each linked to the auction house
$175$200$225$250$27520242025GBP per 75 cl bottle · 2023-04-24 · $262GBP per 75 cl bottle · 2023-04-24 · $262GBP per 75 cl bottle · 2023-04-24 · $262GBP per 75 cl bottle · 2023-04-24 · $262GBP per 75 cl bottle · 2023-04-24 · $276GBP per 75 cl bottle · 2023-04-24 · $276GBP per 75 cl bottle · 2023-04-24 · $276GBP per 75 cl bottle · 2023-04-24 · $276GBP per 75 cl bottle · 2023-04-24 · $276GBP per 75 cl bottle · 2023-04-24 · $276GBP per 75 cl bottle · 2024-10-21 · $207GBP per 75 cl bottle · 2024-11-27 · $184GBP per 75 cl bottle · 2025-06-17 · $193GBP per 75 cl bottle · 2025-09-15 · $234USD per bottle: lot price ÷ bottles in the lotSale date14 lots of 75 cl bottles sold in USD at Christie's · prices as published by each house · ≈ converted to USD at the 9 Oct 2026 rate
Sale dateHouse and saleFormatLot pricePer bottle
Sep 2025Christie'sThe Glorious Cellar of a European Connoisseur (sale 24214) · New York · lot 5612 × 75 cl$3,000$250
Sep 2025Christie'sThe Glorious Cellar of a European Connoisseur (sale 24214) · New York · lot 5512 × 75 cl$2,750$229
Sep 2025Christie'sFine & Rare Wines Featuring an Exceptional Masseto Collection (sale 24000) · London · lot 37012 × 75 cl≈$2,811≈$234
Jun 2025Christie'sThree Great Cellars: A Celebration of Superb Burgundy and Large Format Bordeaux (sale 23892) · London · lot 54612 × 75 cl≈$2,315≈$193
Nov 2024Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines Featuring Tignanello's 50th Anniversary Collection Direct from The Estate and a Superb European Collection (sale 22688) · London · lot 81118 × 75 cl≈$3,307≈$184
Oct 2024Christie'sFine and Rare Wines & Spirits Online: London Edition (sale 23031) · London · lot 2876 × 75 cl≈$1,240≈$207
Jun 2024Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring The Landmark Cellar (sale 23089) · Los Angeles · lot 142 × 150 cl$1,062$531
Jan 2024Christie'sA Pristine Contemporary Cellar: Online (sale 22660) · Hong Kong · lot 4606 × 75 cl≈$1,354≈$226
Jan 2024Christie'sA Pristine Contemporary Cellar: Online (sale 22660) · Hong Kong · lot 45912 × 75 cl≈$2,708≈$226
Apr 2023Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21934) · London · lot 40812 × 75 cl≈$3,142≈$262
Apr 2023Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21934) · London · lot 40712 × 75 cl≈$3,142≈$262
Apr 2023Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21934) · London · lot 40612 × 75 cl≈$3,142≈$262
Apr 2023Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21934) · London · lot 40512 × 75 cl≈$3,142≈$262
Apr 2023Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21934) · London · lot 40412 × 75 cl≈$3,307≈$276
Apr 2023Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21934) · London · lot 40312 × 75 cl≈$3,307≈$276
Apr 2023Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21934) · London · lot 40212 × 75 cl≈$3,307≈$276
Apr 2023Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21934) · London · lot 40112 × 75 cl≈$3,307≈$276
Apr 2023Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21934) · London · lot 40012 × 75 cl≈$3,307≈$276
Apr 2023Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21934) · London · lot 39912 × 75 cl≈$3,307≈$276
May 2022Christie'sThe Ultimate Private Collection Featuring The Greatest Burgundies Part II (sale 21086) · Hong Kong · lot 688612 × 75 cl≈$2,867≈$239
May 2022Christie'sTHE VISIONARY'S SPECTACULAR CELLAR (sale 21212) · Hong Kong · lot 578812 × 75 cl≈$2,230≈$186
May 2022Christie'sTHE VISIONARY'S SPECTACULAR CELLAR (sale 21212) · Hong Kong · lot 578712 × 75 cl≈$2,230≈$186
May 2022Christie'sTHE VISIONARY'S SPECTACULAR CELLAR (sale 21212) · Hong Kong · lot 578612 × 75 cl≈$2,230≈$186
 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: $26–$89 a bottle

We estimate it costs about $26 to $89 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: $4.95Vineyard operations: $1.65Oak barrels: $0.19Winemaking labour and cellar work: $3.00Cellar aging: $3.60Bottle, closure, label, case and bottling: $4.90Winery overhead: $3.00Financing over the aging period: $5.11$26 per bottleHigh estimateImputed land cost: $13.16Vineyard operations: $3.59Oak barrels: $0.76Winemaking labour and cellar work: $6.00Cellar aging: $10.80Bottle, closure, label, case and bottling: $12.40Winery overhead: $8.00Financing over the aging period: $34.47$89 per bottleImputed land costVineyard operationsOak barrelsWinemaking labour and cellar workCellar agingBottle, closure, label, case and bottlingWinery overheadFinancing over the aging periodUS$ 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