Château Lafleur has made waves in the Bordeaux wine community by participating in the 2025 en primeur campaign as its first release under the ‘Vin de France’ designation. This change follows the estate’s decision to withdraw from the Pomerol and Bordeaux appellations, allowing the winemakers more flexibility to adapt to climate change challenges.
On May 15, UK merchant Justerini & Brooks offered the Lafleur 2025, priced at approximately £1,800 for three bottles in bond. Rated 97 points by Decanter’s Georgie Hindle, the wine symbolizes a new chapter for Lafleur, which is known for its stable pricing and high-quality releases. Hindle praised the 2025 vintage as "quietly compelling."
Though this latest release appears pricier than the previously reported £3,530 for six bottles of the 2024 vintage, Lafleur has historically maintained consistent pricing, which often leads to increases on the secondary market. However, securing a bottle of Lafleur 2025 may prove challenging this year; according to Justerini & Brooks, production is lower than usual.
In addition to the Lafleur 2025, the estate also released Le Grand Village, now retitled as a Vin de France for £89 per six bottles. Hindle referred to it as "one of Bordeaux’s best value wines," awarding it 93 points. The second wine, Les Pensées 2025, received a 95-point rating and is priced at £400 for three bottles.
As other Bordeaux 2025 wines begin to emerge, such as Cheval Blanc and Domaine de Chevalier, the market trends suggest a slow and cautious campaign reopening. Many sought-after vintages have shown modest price increases, but compared to prior years, some releases remain competitively priced. For example, Domaine de Chevalier 2025 debuted at £216 per six bottles, which, while slightly elevated, remains the lowest price since the 2014 vintage.
Overall, the Bordeaux 2025 campaign appears to offer potential bargains amid rising prices, though larger producers are holding back on releases, possibly assessing the market’s receptiveness. Early highlights from the campaign reflect a mixed bag of sales, with some wines moving more quickly than anticipated, demonstrating a cautiously optimistic outlook amid ongoing market challenges.