The Bordeaux wine market is buzzing with anticipation as wine enthusiasts gear up for the annual ritual of en primeur purchases. This unique sales process sees a portion of wines from the previous autumn’s harvest sold through the subscription market in the spring, with the fermented grape juice continuing to age in oak barrels.
En primeur buyers are treated to lower prices than those found later in specialty stores, although they must exercise patience, waiting two years for their cases and bottles to be delivered from the châteaux.
The highlight of this tradition is the en primeur week, drawing professionals like merchants, experts, and journalists to Bordeaux to sample the barrels and form initial impressions of the vintage. It’s during this time that wine merchants from around the globe vie for coveted allocations before offering them to end customers.
Renowned wine expert James Suckling provided an exclusive insight into the 2023 Bordeaux vintage, noting its promising nature. He remarked, “The best 2023 wines show balance and freshness with deep aromas. In many ways, I prefer them to many of the highly praised 2022s because they are so typically Bordeaux-like in style, with their taut mouthfeel and energetic finish.”
Despite the promising quality, prices in the en primeur market are notably lower than the fervor of recent years, particularly driven by the Chinese market. According to a survey by Wine Lister among 50 leading producers, 2023 prices are on average 30 percent below the record levels of 2022.
Some top wines of the 2023 vintage are even up to 40 percent cheaper. For instance, Château Mouton-Rothschild 2023 was offered to merchants in the subscription market at 458 euros per bottle, compared to 722 euros the previous year. Typically, the more expensive the wine, the greater the price reductions compared to the previous year.
This significant price drop is attributed to the saturation of the secondary market, which struggled to absorb the escalating prices of recent years. Merchants find themselves with vast inventories that are challenging to sell at current price levels.
For wine enthusiasts seeking access to the 2023 Bordeaux subscriptions, specialized merchants like Mövenpick and Arvi offer comprehensive options. E-commerce platform Qoqa also presents enticing deals from major houses and various treasures, making it an excellent destination for bargain hunters in search of exclusive wines.
