Bordeaux Futures, also known as En Primeur, is a premium opportunity for wine lovers to purchase wines from Bordeaux’s top châteaux before they’re even bottled. Each spring, merchants and wine experts travel to the region for a week of intensive barrel tastings, exploring the latest vintage while it’s still developing in fine French oak. It’s a time-honoured tradition that allows collectors to secure exceptional wines early.

Beyond the excitement, it’s also an astute investment: by ordering now, you’ll often pay considerably less than if you wait to buy the same wines when they arrive on store shelves two years later.

With the challenges of the 2024 vintage and the resulting historically low yields, the lowest Bordeaux harvest since 1991, pricing will be a top priority. While production costs were high due to the extra work in the vineyard, most producers are aware that the market is price-sensitive following a conservative 2023 campaign. As a result, most estates are expected to moderate their en primeur release prices to reflect the uneven quality and limited quantities.

This presents a unique opportunity for collectors: while the vintage demands selectivity, it may offer astute entry points to the top châteaux, especially for those who focus on estates that overperformed under the circumstances.

The 2024 Bordeaux vintage is shaping up to be an elegant, fresh, and classically styled year. A warm spring, balanced summer, cool nights, and rainfall allowed for steady ripening and ideal harvest conditions across the region.

“We had time on our side this year,” said Pierre Lurton of Château Cheval Blanc. “The grapes developed fabulously, with a balance between sugar and acidity.”

Initial tastings reveal vibrant aromatics, velvety tannins, and lively acidity. Merlots are opulent yet refined, while Cabernets, particularly on the Left Bank, are dense, structured, and full of classic character. Right Bank producers are especially thrilled with the Merlot quality, and Sauternes is showing excellent potential for beautifully concentrated sweet wines.

“2024 is not about power, it’s about precision and harmony,” said Jean-Philippe Delmas of Château Haut-Brion.

With its refined character and early approachability, 2024 promises both immediate drinking pleasure and long-term value, making it a compelling choice for Bordeaux Futures buyers.

• Available in cases of 3 or 6 bottles.
• Pre-order deadline: July 31, 2025.
• Prices listed do not include tax or delivery fee. Applicable taxes (5% GST plus provincial taxes ranging from 5–15%, depending on the wine’s value) and delivery fees will be charged upon arrival.
• The 2024 Bordeaux vintage is expected to arrive in summer 2027.
• For questions or inquiries about the 2024 Bordeaux vintage, please contact us at care@canadianliquorstore.ca.