The en primeur campaign for Bordeaux 2025 began with some notable releases, albeit a bit disjointed due to recent bank holidays that interrupted the flow. Major châteaux like Lafleur, Château Cheval Blanc, and Château Pontet-Canet have made headlines with their offerings, alongside Château Lafite Rothschild and its portfolio including Château Angélus and Château Palmer.
Among these, Lafite Rothschild emerged as a standout, receiving a remarkable 97-point rating from Decanter’s Georgie Hindle. This vintage is characterized by a more lively profile compared to past years. Despite its higher cost of approximately 16% more than the 2024 vintage, the offering remains cheaper than several previous high-rated vintages. It has been made available in tri-packs for £1,047, indicating a limited yield of only 27hl/ha.
Château Angélus, also rated at 97 points, was noted for its balance and elegance, priced at £606 for a set of three bottles. Similarly, Château Palmer debuted with the same score from Hindle, available for £1,158 for six bottles, sparking mixed reactions about its pricing in relation to its high quality.
Feedback from the region indicates a generally positive reception for several top-tier wines. Merchants reported solid sales for big names like Cheval Blanc and Lafite, and many wines are being sought in larger format bottles, reflecting a strong demand from buyers eager to secure quality vintages.
Several additional releases are expected in early June, including wines from Mouton Rothschild and Haut-Brion, signaling a ramping up of releases to maintain momentum from the initial offerings.
In summary, while the Bordeaux 2025 en primeur campaign started hesitantly, it has the potential to build further excitement with upcoming releases and strong early reviews.