2024 Bordeaux En Primeur – A Vintage for the Discerning Collector
The 2024 vintage is shaping up to be one of the most challenging in recent Bordeaux history, but definitely not without a few gems for the careful collector. Marked by severe mildew pressure, hailstorms, and harvest-time rains, this year has produced the smallest Bordeaux crop since 1991. While overall volumes are dramatically reduced, the best estates, those with the means and precision, have still crafted wines of very notable elegance, freshness, and balance.
This is may not be a vintage to buy in quantity, but instead- to buy wisely. With limited quantities available, securing your en primeur wines now ensures access to standout bottles that may not be widely available once released on shelves in two years.
The Growing Season: Difficulty and Discipline
Since the start, the 2024 vintage faced adversity. Persistent spring rainfall created ideal conditions for mildew, which decimated Merlot yields across both banks. Some vineyards in Saint-Émilion and the Médoc lost up to 90% of their crop. A brutal hailstorm in late April hit parts of the Right Bank and Entre-Deux-Mers, and the wet September forced some to harvest earlier than ideal.
Despite these challenges, top producers responded with meticulous vineyard management: green harvesting, leaf thinning, and state-of-the-art sorting all played a vital role in saving the vintage. The result is a crop that's tiny in volume but, in many cases, surprisingly refined in quality.
Regional Overview: Pockets of Precision
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Pauillac & Saint-Julien: Despite low yields, several top estates crafted structured, classic wines with restrained alcohol and fine tannins.
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Pessac-Léognan: A standout region for both reds and whites. The whites are especially fresh and vibrant, with clear aromatics and tension.
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Pomerol & Saint-Émilion: Heterogeneous but promising for those who harvested wisely and sorted thoroughly.
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Margaux: More uneven due to early rot and mildew, but elite châteaux still delivered graceful wines with floral elegance.
This is a vintage where reputation, terroir, and attention to detail make a decisive difference.
How 2024 Compares to Recent Vintages
While 2024 doesn't match the ripeness or concentration of 2022 or the classic density of 2020, it offers a return to a fresher, more restrained style of Bordeaux that collectors of earlier decades will recognize. Think refinement over opulence, moderate alcohol (often under 13.5%), and good aging potential for the best wines.
Compared to 2023, the 2024s may be more limited in scope but tighter in structure and a touch more classically built. Unlike the light and inconsistent 2021s, 2024 shows greater balance where successful. The key difference lies in selectivity: while previous vintages allowed for broader buying, 2024 demands a more curated approach.
Why Consider 2024 En Primeur?
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Historic scarcity: With the smallest harvest since 1991, availability will be extremely limited.
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Smart value: In a cooler market, pricing from many estates is expected to be more restrained, offering good buying opportunities from high-performing names.
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Classic drinkability: For those who enjoy Bordeaux with lower alcohol, crisp acidity, and refined tannins, 2024 presents compelling cellar additions.
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Strong second wines: With less fruit to go around, many producers diverted top-quality grapes into their second labels, creating standout values.
Final Thoughts
2024 may not be a vintage for headlines, but it is one for the discerning. There are elegant, structured, age-worthy wines to be found, but they require selectivity and insight. With yields dramatically reduced, quantities will be tight. Pre-ordering en primeur is not only a chance to secure allocations, but to do so at potentially advantageous release prices.
We’ll be reviewing offers as they arrive and can assist you with tailored recommendations based on your preferences and cellar goals. Reach out to reserve your picks early, this is a year where the best wines won’t last long.