The Smart Collector’s Guide: Best Value Bordeaux Wines of 2024
The 2024 Bordeaux En Primeur campaign brought something collectors haven’t seen in years: value and restraint! After a streak of warm vintages filled with bold, opulent wines, 2024 marks a refreshing return to finesse, freshness, and classical structure. For those who favour balance over brawn and value over hype, this vintage delivers with quiet confidence.
At Canadian Liquor Store, we’ve tasted widely, compared critically, and zeroed in on the wines that combine exceptional pedigree with prices that won’t make your eyes water.
Redefining Value at the Top: Mouton, Lafite, and Angélus
First-growth Bordeaux is rarely associated with “value,” but 2024 has something to say about that. Château Mouton Rothschild 2024 is a standout, offering its trademark charisma with a touch more elegance this year. The flamboyance is still there, just framed with more poise and precision. At $496, it’s a compelling buy compared to the loftier $637 price of the 2023 release. With this kind of structure, Mouton feels like a thinking collector’s wine—a bottle for the cellar and the storybooks.
Château Lafite Rothschild continues to prove that power doesn't have to shout. The 2024 vintage is a masterclass in linear grace, wrapped in fine tannins and effortless length. Released at $570, it’s priced well below the $777 of last year, making it one of the most attractively positioned Lafite vintages of the past decade. Quiet luxury, indeed.
Over on the Right Bank, Château Angélus is embracing a more refined identity. Gone are the days of plush excess. In 2024, Angélus is sleek and composed, with vivid red fruit, violets, and a whisper of saline minerality. At $369, it offers a Grand Cru Classé experience that’s both modern and soulful, without the modern price spike.
The Rise of Figeac and the Grace of Ausone
Saint-Émilion has been having a moment, and Château Figeac is leading the charge. Newly crowned as Premier Grand Cru Classé “A,” Figeac’s 2024 vintage is all about clarity and length. With Cabernet-driven structure and luminous fruit, this wine leans more on finesse than force. At $205, it represents exceptional value, especially when compared to its more expensive and divisive 2022 counterpart, which debuted at $518.
Château Ausone, meanwhile, continues its quiet reign as one of Bordeaux’s most elegant estates. The 2024 vintage is tightly wound and ethereal, all perfumed limestone precision. Yes, the price is still high at $650, but in Ausone terms, that almost feels like a bargain compared to last year’s eye-popping $848. Same pedigree, better price, and a vintage that whispers rather than roars…we’ll take it!
Luxury That Overdelivers: Duhart-Milon
If there’s one château that consistently punches above its price point, it’s Château Duhart-Milon. Backed by Lafite’s team and terroir, this Pauillac delivers Left Bank structure with just the right touch of polish. The 2024 vintage is classic Duhart! Tobacco-laced, tightly knit, and built to age. At $103, it comes in below last year’s $118, which makes this an especially sharp buy for savvy collectors. A classic vintage, a lower price, and serious cellar potential? That’s what we call a Bordeaux trifecta.
Final Thoughts: Why 2024 Rewards the Patient and the Discerning
The 2024 Bordeaux vintage doesn’t chase trends. It rewards patience, celebrates balance, and reminds us that elegance never goes out of style. In a market often dominated by scarcity, headlines, and heat, 2024 is a welcome return to form. It’s a vintage that whispers its greatness to those willing to listen.
Please note that all prices listed above are per bottle, exclusive of tax, and reflect initial release pricing. The 2024 vintage is expected to increase by a minimum of 5% as of July 1, 2025. So if you’re thinking about adding to your collection, this is your cue.