Bordeaux, being the benchmark the world uses to measure all things related to wines, has been doing “En Primeur” every year since the 18th century. Every year for one week in spring, usually in April, most Bordeaux chateaux will ‘present’ their latest wines from the previous year’s harvest, which are still maturing in barrels and not even ready for bottling in two years’ time. The event is called “EN Primeur”.
Wine buyers, trade people including wine writers, negociants, brokers, restaurants, collectors, etc. would descend on Bordeaux for the one-week event of tasting these wines. Then in roughly two weeks following the event, after the wine writers have a chance to release their tasting notes and their opinion on how the wines will mature and evolve in the future, and other interested parties have a chance to reflect and plan on their forward buying and purchases, the chateaux will start releasing their ‘en primeur prices’. This is a huge event and eagerly anticipated in the wine world every year.
These en primeur prices are usually about 20 to 30 percent less than the eventual release prices two years later when the wines are bottled and released. For the chateaux, en primeur allows them to get some early cashflow prior to the final release of the wines. This is important to most chateaux as the wines are tied up for two years in their cellars. For the consumers and collectors, they can purchase the wines at a lower cost compared to later when the wines are released into the market. This also allows collectors to make sure they can get their hands on wines they would be interested in buying later.
I don’t believe the average consumer or collector will travel to Bordeaux for the en primeur tasting. But I do know at least two wine stores in Calgary have been sending buyer teams to Bordeaux every year for the last few decades. You can get on the future buying plans of Willow Park, Richmond Hill and Zin here in Calgary. I have for many years participated in all three of their Bordeaux Future programs. I find that I usually enjoy lower prices compared to later released prices and they guarantee I can get my hands on some of the not so widely available wines for my collections.
I am writing this piece partly to inform members of what Bordeaux en primeur is all about. But also, partly to let you know that the Bordeaux Future programs of all three of those wine stores are on currently for the 2023 vintage. If you are interested in starting to build your Bordeaux collection or getting nice Bordeaux at discounts from future release prices, contact Peter at Willow Park or Devan at Richmond Hill.
Be prepared, however, to pay for the wines at this time, but you will have to wait patiently for the wines to be delivered later in 2025.
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