AN EN PRIMEUR CAMPAIGN UNDER CRISIS TIME... AN OPPORTUNITY?
Prices down 30% + an overall great vintage = A wine lover year!
Overall, 2019 was a hot vintage with all the potential successes and pitfalls that this style of year brings with it; rich fruits, concentration, high alcohols, plenty of tannins.
The top wines on the Left Bank seem less lush but more structured than in 2018, so closer to 2016 in style. But, I have so far found there is less consistency as you move down the rankings than in 2016.
The top Right Bank wines seem closer to 2018 in style. They are rich and lush in many cases, although with slightly higher acidity levels than in 2018.
The Bordeaux Institute of Wine and Vine Science (ISVV) has given 2019 a 3.5 to four-star rating – out of five – in its annual report. Where estates sits on that range depends heavily on soil type and location.
That would make Bordeaux 2019 an extremely high-quality year, but not up with the 4.5 to five-star vintages of 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015 or 2016.
To give you an idea of the scale, 2013 didn’t even make it to one star, and 2014 was at three.Bordeaux 2018 a chalenging but overall *exceptionnal vintage* comparable to the greatest like recent 2016 and 2015 which could turn out to be an all-time great, similar to 2010, 2009 and 1989 or even such classics as 1982 or 1959
What weather conditions shaped the vintage?
1/ The chalenging poor and wet weather of the first half of 2018;
2/ The terrible attack of mildew in July and particurlaly in organic and biodynamic vineyards. Some of them lost 80% of their crop (Palmer largely attacked, only produced 11 Hectoliter per Ha this year - about a 1/4 of normal crop). Ch. Pontet-Canet also in Biodynamy lost 2/3 of its crop;
3/ The hot and sunny weather from mid-July until the end of the harvest in October were THE determining factor. It enabled vintners to harvest just about any time they wanted. This was one of the most spread out, relaxed harvests in living memory; most grapes will have had the time to get fully mature before picking.
=> Overall: *There are breathtaking wines that shows an incredible depth of fruit and complexity as well as great structure and richness.*
The top wines on the Left Bank seem less lush but more structured than in 2018, so closer to 2016 in style. But, I have so far found there is less consistency as you move down the rankings than in 2016.
The top Right Bank wines seem closer to 2018 in style. They are rich and lush in many cases, although with slightly higher acidity levels than in 2018.
The Bordeaux Institute of Wine and Vine Science (ISVV) has given 2019 a 3.5 to four-star rating – out of five – in its annual report. Where estates sits on that range depends heavily on soil type and location.
That would make Bordeaux 2019 an extremely high-quality year, but not up with the 4.5 to five-star vintages of 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015 or 2016.
To give you an idea of the scale, 2013 didn’t even make it to one star, and 2014 was at three.Bordeaux 2018 a chalenging but overall *exceptionnal vintage* comparable to the greatest like recent 2016 and 2015 which could turn out to be an all-time great, similar to 2010, 2009 and 1989 or even such classics as 1982 or 1959
What weather conditions shaped the vintage?
1/ The chalenging poor and wet weather of the first half of 2018;
2/ The terrible attack of mildew in July and particurlaly in organic and biodynamic vineyards. Some of them lost 80% of their crop (Palmer largely attacked, only produced 11 Hectoliter per Ha this year - about a 1/4 of normal crop). Ch. Pontet-Canet also in Biodynamy lost 2/3 of its crop;
3/ The hot and sunny weather from mid-July until the end of the harvest in October were THE determining factor. It enabled vintners to harvest just about any time they wanted. This was one of the most spread out, relaxed harvests in living memory; most grapes will have had the time to get fully mature before picking.
=> Overall: *There are breathtaking wines that shows an incredible depth of fruit and complexity as well as great structure and richness.*
Why purchase "En Primeur" wines?
Purchasing en primeur gives one the opportunity to secure wines that may have very limited quantities and be next to impossible to get after they are released. In outstanding vintages, some classified Bordeaux estates can have nearly all that year's inventory allocated or purchased before the wine is bottled and released to the consumer market.
More significantly, en primeur allows investors to adopt a “buy low, sell high” strategy as the release price during the en primeur period would most likely be much lower than the price the wine would be once it is released.
More significantly, en primeur allows investors to adopt a “buy low, sell high” strategy as the release price during the en primeur period would most likely be much lower than the price the wine would be once it is released.
En"Primeur" explained...
Every spring, following the harvest of a given vintage, Top Bordeaux wines show case samples of their wines and release a fraction of their total production at a special opening price.
Worldwide wine merchants and wine critics will be invited to taste wines while they are still maturing, and some time before they are ready to drink. Their experience enables them to say how the raw wine that they are tasting will taste when it has finished ageing, and judge whether the wine is worth the price that the grower is asking for (even though it tastes quite different from the final drinkable wine).
Wines are rated by world wine critics which gives an instant indication of the value of the wine and its potential for investment. Buying “En primeur”, also known as “Wine Futures”, is good a way to secure a sought after wine at a reasonable price.
The consumer pays the cost of the wine at the time of the order. An invoice is raised which states that the customer has a right to the wine at a future date. The wine is then shipped up to 2 years later when the bottled wines are released. Wines are purchased exclusive of Duty and VAT.
“En Primeur” is definitely a great way to buy wines to cellar for an extended period. If Bordeaux is undeniably the largest region that offers “En Primeur” wines, some of Burgundy and Rhône-Valley wines are also released “En Primeur”.
Worldwide wine merchants and wine critics will be invited to taste wines while they are still maturing, and some time before they are ready to drink. Their experience enables them to say how the raw wine that they are tasting will taste when it has finished ageing, and judge whether the wine is worth the price that the grower is asking for (even though it tastes quite different from the final drinkable wine).
Wines are rated by world wine critics which gives an instant indication of the value of the wine and its potential for investment. Buying “En primeur”, also known as “Wine Futures”, is good a way to secure a sought after wine at a reasonable price.
The consumer pays the cost of the wine at the time of the order. An invoice is raised which states that the customer has a right to the wine at a future date. The wine is then shipped up to 2 years later when the bottled wines are released. Wines are purchased exclusive of Duty and VAT.
“En Primeur” is definitely a great way to buy wines to cellar for an extended period. If Bordeaux is undeniably the largest region that offers “En Primeur” wines, some of Burgundy and Rhône-Valley wines are also released “En Primeur”.
TERMS & CONDITIONS of "En Primeur"purchases
An order of En-Primeur wines must be paid by a deposit equivalent to the total value of the wines except VAT, excise duty and delivery charges. Upon reception of the order and payment, a pro-forma invoice of the wines will be mailed to the customer's invoicing email address.
This pro-forma invoice and the proof of payment will guarantee the rightful ownership of the wines.
Once the wines become available from the châteaux, beginning of 2021 for the 2018 vintage (1 year later for Château d'Yquem, Château Climens, Château Rieussec, Château de Fargues et Château Raymond-Lafon) a final invoice will be e-mailed to the customer's invoicing email address indicating:
This pro-forma invoice and the proof of payment will guarantee the rightful ownership of the wines.
Once the wines become available from the châteaux, beginning of 2021 for the 2018 vintage (1 year later for Château d'Yquem, Château Climens, Château Rieussec, Château de Fargues et Château Raymond-Lafon) a final invoice will be e-mailed to the customer's invoicing email address indicating:
- The VAT applicable on the day of the final invoicing (VAT of the country of destination) & the excise duty (if applies) unless you wish to store them in our in-Bond tax free warehouse (France, UK &HK)
- Customer's internal reference
- Name and forename of the customer
- Delivery address
- Reference and amount of goods ordered along with relevant in bond ex VAT price
- Amount paid or/and due
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