Bordeaux 2024: Terroir, technique, timing…and price

As excitement mounts for the Bordeaux 2024 en primeur campaign, our Senior Buyer, Robert Mathias MW, shares his thoughts on the vintage and you can find out more here.

 

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A real kickstart to the Bordeaux 2024 releases comes the launch of the Château Lafite-Rothschild at just £1,713 per case of 6 bottles. This is the lowest release price since the 2014 vintage, a 27% reduction on the 2023 and a 50% reduction versus the 2022 vintage. Sharply priced, this is the best priced vintage of Lafite in the market today.

Carruades de Lafite has also been launched at a very sharp price of £714 per case of 6 bottles, also the lowest in the market and a 23% reduction versus 2023.

Finally, Duhart-Milon has been launched with the same decisive effort, with a 17% reduction versus the 2023 vintage.

These releases give a strong signal that this a campaign to watch closely with certain properties making an extra effort to show the value of buying en primeur.

Tuesday 29th April

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2024 Château Lafite-Rothschild, Pauillac Dry | Red | Still

A very classic Lafite, not exuberant but rather a wine of vivid detail. There is nowhere to hide in the wine – rather like looking inside a Swiss watch. It transports the beautiful, gravelly Pauillac soils with notes of soy, iodine, graphite and sapid hedgerow fruit. There is bright acidity here, notes of violets and plenty of mineral-etched detail with a fine lattice of tannins. A fine Lafite to drink over the next thirty years.

Young: 2030 - 2054
2024 Carruades de Lafite, Pauillac Dry | Red | Still

A vibrant and linear style of Carruades that offers notes of red berries and a little cedar and coffee spice on the nose. The palate has detailed, sinewy tannin, a hint of fresh herbs, with a cranberry lift and saline quality on the finish. A more early drinking style of Carruades that shows some of the accessibility of the vintage.

Young: 2029 - 2044
2024 Château Duhart-Milon, Pauillac Dry | Red | Still

This is a bright and detailed Duhart with notes of espresso, dried herbs and a little cocoa note on the nose. The palate is saline and with a real sense of purity and direction. Flavours of dark cherry, violets, and a little soy linger on the finish. A sinewy and sapid Duhart this year.

Young: 2028 - 2044
2024 Château Gruaud Larose, St-Julien Dry | Red | Still

This is a detailed and charming Gruaud with mid-weight and a real lift of violet and espresso perfume. Opening with subtle spice of sandalwood and bay the palate reveals notes of red berry and some cassis fruit. Lots of tension here and a rather understated elegance.

Young: 2028 - 2048
2024 Château Lafite-Rothschild, Pauillac Dry | Red | Still

A very classic Lafite, not exuberant but rather a wine of vivid detail. There is nowhere to hide in the wine – rather like looking inside a Swiss watch. It transports the beautiful, gravelly Pauillac soils with notes of soy, iodine, graphite and sapid hedgerow fruit. There is bright acidity here, notes of violets and plenty of mineral-etched detail with a fine lattice of tannins. A fine Lafite to drink over the next thirty years.

Young: 2030 - 2054

Thursday 24th April

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Thursday saw the release of one of our favourite estates in St-Julien, Château Branaire-Ducru. While an estate that already offers great value, Francois-Xavier has reduced his price back by 18% on last year to make this the lowest release price in the past 10 years, and the best price in the market today. It comes highly recommended.

2024 Château Branaire-Ducru, St-Julien Dry | Red | Still

72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 3.5% Cabernet Franc and 2.5% Petit Verdot. A bright and aromatic Branaire that is more finesse and charm than density. There are notes of violets and cocoa dusted cherries. There is a fine freshness and sense of elegance on the palate with fine boned tannins on the finish.

Ready: 2026 - 2038
2024 Château Branaire-Ducru, St-Julien Dry | Red | Still

72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 3.5% Cabernet Franc and 2.5% Petit Verdot. A bright and aromatic Branaire that is more finesse and charm than density. There are notes of violets and cocoa dusted cherries. There is a fine freshness and sense of elegance on the palate with fine boned tannins on the finish.

Young: 2026 - 2042

Wednesday 23rd April

Two wines released from Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix: La Fleur-Pétrus and Bélair-Monange, both of which come highly recommended capturing the elegance and finesse of this vintage.

2024 Château Bélair-Monange, St-Emilion Dry | Red | Still

This is very seamless and pure in style opening with fine spiced cherry fruit, five spice, wild strawberry and kirsch. A little detail of tannin which grip slightly but there is a purity and elegance here. The fruit is medium bodied and strawberry and red fruit focused. A lovely energy here and excellent intensity for the vintage.

Ready: 2026 - 2044
2024 Château La Fleur-Pétrus, Pomerol Dry | Red | Still

The 2024 La Fleur Petrus is quite a serious and brooding wine. Restrained at first there is plenty of spice with aromas of white pepper and sandalwood. Quite strict on the palate with sinewy tannin, red cherry fruit and a little liquorice note there is plenty of tension and energy. With time this might gain some weight and become more rounded on the palate.

Young: 2028 - 2045
2024 Château La Fleur-Pétrus, Pomerol Dry | Red | Still

The 2024 La Fleur Petrus is quite a serious and brooding wine. Restrained at first there is plenty of spice with aromas of white pepper and sandalwood. Quite strict on the palate with sinewy tannin, red cherry fruit and a little liquorice note there is plenty of tension and energy. With time this might gain some weight and become more rounded on the palate.

Young: 2028 - 2045

Tuesday 22nd April

The campaign kicked off with the release of Batailley 2024. A firm favourite, and with a modest reduction in release price to the lowest of the past ten years, it comes recommended. To celebrate 100 years of Borie-Casteja family ownership, the estate have produced as special label as well as a celebratory Marie-Jeanne format.

2024 Château Batailley, Pauillac Dry | Red | Still

A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 15% Merlot, the 2024 Batailley opens with charm and distinctive floral notes of violets and iris. Classical in profile, there is an understated elegance here. Gravelly and mineral, it is mid-weight, fresh and vibrant – a wine that has captured the growing season, and plenty of tension to unfold in the coming years.

Ready: 2026 - 2042
2024 Château Batailley, Pauillac Dry | Red | Still

A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 15% Merlot, the 2024 Batailley opens with charm and distinctive floral notes of violets and iris. Classical in profile, there is an understated elegance here. Gravelly and mineral, it is mid-weight, fresh and vibrant – a wine that has captured the growing season, and plenty of tension to unfold in the coming years.

Ready: 2026 - 2040
2024 Château Batailley, Pauillac Dry | Red | Still

A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 15% Merlot, the 2024 Batailley opens with charm and distinctive floral notes of violets and iris. Classical in profile, there is an understated elegance here. Gravelly and mineral, it is mid-weight, fresh and vibrant – a wine that has captured the growing season, and plenty of tension to unfold in the coming years.

Ready: 2026 - 2045
2024 Château Batailley, Pauillac Dry | Red | Still

A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 15% Merlot, the 2024 Batailley opens with charm and distinctive floral notes of violets and iris. Classical in profile, there is an understated elegance here. Gravelly and mineral, it is mid-weight, fresh and vibrant – a wine that has captured the growing season, and plenty of tension to unfold in the coming years.

Ready: 2026 - 2042