When a famous artist dies unexpectedly, the marketplace is caught by surprise, and a temporary panic sets in: art dealers and collectors scramble for the deceased master’s art, and prices spike in the short term. While mercenary in nature, we’ve noticed the same phenomenon in the world of fine wine, as we’ve received dozens of inquiries for the final vintages produced by recently deceased winemakers including Anne-Claude Leflaive of Burgundy, Gianfranco Soldera of Montalcino, Bruno Giacosa of Barolo, Auguste Clape of Cornas, and too many others to list here. To be clear, we do not recommend buying on the heels of a winemaker’s death, but such news may present an opportune moment to sell, particularly if the winemaker has no heirs who are interested in taking over the family estate.