Reports are coming in fast following last month’s en premier kickoff in Bordeaux. For those who may not be familiar with the process, en premier is the spring event when the Bordeaux chateaux begin to release pricing for the upcoming vintage. It starts with a roughly two-week period in April when journalists, writers, and buyers descend upon Bordeaux to taste and score the new releases. Reports and price lists will keep coming through the summer.
It’s always a time of great discussion about the state of wine in Bordeaux as the world watches whether prices will climb or drop. With the overproduction problems facing the region, it’s no surprise that prices have stabilized and are predicted to drop for many houses. This is great news for wine lovers, but this year may be the one to carefully choose your favorites as the vintage is drawing mixed reviews.
More from the FT: The FT’s Lex column has more on the pricing predictions and why the editors at Livex feel Bordeaux has become a wine with diminishing returns. Of course, this isn’t factoring in the wine lovers who buy it to enjoy. This year’s price corrections may be a good news/bad news situation for the consumer, wine industry, and chateaux.
James Suckling: James Suckling released his Bordeaux report in two parts – Part I has great things to say about the minerality in the whites and how the right bank wines shine. Part II has a broader summary and his thoughts on prices which he predicts will be coming down. The 2023 vintage sounds like one that will appeal to purists and will shine in the hands of capable winemakers.
Decanter: Decanter has full coverage from a team of writers covering the en premier releases. Individual notes and scores are for subscribers only as well as their analysis on major price drops from houses like Lafite Rothschild.
Detail and Color: For a more detailed first hand report with a lot of first and later impressions, don’t miss the reporting from writer Chris Kissack at The Wine Doctor. He gives readers a real feel for what it’s like to be at the en premier tastings talking with winemakers about the vintage and wines.
Wines of the Medoc: David Allen MW begins his en premier reporting for Winesearcher.com with the wines of the Medoc which are universally lauded as some of the best of the vintage. He gives a good overview of some favorites from Saint-Julien, Paulliac, Saint-Estephe, and Margaux.
Jane Anson on En Premier Reporting: Podcaster Sarah Kemp, host of The Wine Conversation, interviews Bordeaux expert Jane Anson on how she creates her en premier reports, especially after tasting and rating over 800 wines. She also covers some of the challenges of the 2023 vintage from mildew, yields, and more. Anson’s en premier report released May 2, 2024 at Janeanson.com
In Case You Missed It: Is This the End? Wine writer Karen Macneil made waves last month on her Winespeed blog with an essay on the future of wine and wine journalism. It’s worth a read for her thoughts on the changing industry, what readers want – and don’t – and the value of editors and critics. It started a lot of useful online discussions about why wine writers are important and how they fit into a changing world of wine.
Thinking of a Visit? Thinking of a visit to Bordeaux or perhaps a longer stay? The Times of London has a great guide for the best things to do in Bordeaux this spring or summer. From the Cite du Vin to enjoying the cities open spaces and shopping, there’s a lot to explore.
Connecting. Creating. 
Leave a comment