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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Gaja, Barbaresco 2016

2016 was an exceptional year in Piedmont: about as good as it gets.

Save · All vintages of Gaja, Barbaresco · Compare

Panorama of Piedmont vineyards and the town of Barbaresco
javarman · Adobe Stock · Adobe Stock Standard License

What to expect

Even season; released to universal praise; prices for the top crus rose sharply. Expect a rich, complete wine that can keep improving for decades.

No year of this wine is rated higher. It shares the top mark with 1 others out of the 22 we cover.

A glass of brick-red wine on an old cask in a brick cellar of very large oak casks
The year
Exceptional
Last sold at auction for
≈$165a bottle · Christie's, Jun 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.

2021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000
ExceptionalExcellentVery goodGoodMixedDifficult

What bottles sell for

At auction, standard bottles of this vintage have sold for between ≈$165 and ≈$174 each, across 2 sales since September 2022.

Every sale on record4 lots, each linked to the auction house
Sale dateHouse and saleFormatLot pricePer bottle
Jun 2025Christie'sThree Great Cellars: A Celebration of Superb Burgundy and Large Format Bordeaux (sale 23892) · London · lot 22114 × 75 cl≈$2,315≈$165
Sep 2022Christie'sThe Treasury: Finest Wines from a Peerless Collection (sale 21095) · London · lot 4571 × 300 cl≈$743≈$743
Sep 2022Christie'sThe Treasury: Finest Wines from a Peerless Collection (sale 21095) · London · lot 4563 × 150 cl≈$992≈$331
Sep 2022Christie'sThe Treasury: Finest Wines from a Peerless Collection (sale 21095) · London · lot 45512 × 75 cl≈$2,084≈$174
 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: $21–$82 a bottle

We estimate it costs about $21 to $82 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: $4.91Vineyard operations: $2.38Oak barrels: $0.12Winemaking labour and cellar work: $2.50Cellar aging: $2.56Bottle, closure, label, case and bottling: $3.90Winery overhead: $2.50Financing over the aging period: $2.42$21 per bottleHigh estimateImputed land cost: $27.43Vineyard operations: $5.88Oak barrels: $0.51Winemaking labour and cellar work: $5.00Cellar aging: $7.20Bottle, closure, label, case and bottling: $10.40Winery overhead: $6.00Financing over the aging period: $19.66$82 per bottleImputed land costVineyard operationsOak barrelsWinemaking labour and cellar workCellar agingBottle, closure, label, case and bottlingWinery overheadFinancing over the aging periodUS$ 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