En Primeur Releases: 21 - 27 April
Bordeaux Index
27 April 2025
Bordeaux En Primeur 2024 is officially underway - here’s a roundup of this week's releases
2024 Chateau Batailley 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac
Release Price: GBP 150 per 6 x 75cl (other formats available)
93pts Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux | "Fragrant, floral, precise, with graphite and crayon character that is immediately apparant on the nose. Very much captures the appellation and estate signature, with real classicism and balance, depth through the mid palate and slim, savoury blue and black fruits. Well constructed, and no question that this can age - easy to project forward to think that in a decade this will be in full Batailley swing. 57% new oak for ageing, Casteja family estate."
2024 Chateau Belair-Monange Premier Grand Cru Classe B, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Release Price: GBP 530 per 6 x 75cl (other formats available)
Bordeaux Index | "Bright and quite floral with aromatic petal notes decorating the strawberry and fresh plum fruit. Fine sandy tannins is quite delightful to drink already, with some spicy depth and a palate weight that stands out in this vintage."
2024 Chateau Bourgneuf, Pomerol
Release Price: GBP 150 per 6 x 75cl (other formats available)
2024 Chateau La Fleur-Pétrus, Pomerol
Release Price: GBP 680 per 75cl (other formats available)
Bordeaux Index | "Ripe, dark fruit with an intense perfume of violet and vanilla. The oak is quite prominent at this embryonic stage, but it is well-judged and adds a certain sophistication that should integrate nicely. There's good freshness here, balanced with notable weight and richness, and framed by firm, crunchy tannins."
2024 Château Pontet-Canet 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac
Release Price: GBP 360 per 6 x 75cl (other formats available)
94pts Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux | "Vibrant ruby in colour with violet edging, this is beautifully measured, with a careful release of black fruits. Puts the focus on the floral side of Cabernet Sauvignon, with rose petals, chamomile, fragrant tomato leaf and lilac. There is austerity on the opening, with tight architecture but as it opens juice begins to flow through the pumice and slate-textured tannins, and this delivers a finessed, slim-style of Pauillac, with plenty of ageing potential and quiet confidence. One of the successes of the vintage."
2024 Château Branaire-Ducru
Release Price: GBP 159 per 6 x 75cl (other formats available)
91pts Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux | "Lovely bright plum colour, slim blue and black fruits, coffee bean and cedar oak notes, carefully constructed with balance, a little short on the finish compared to the excellent recent vintages at Branaire. 55% new oak. 41.5 hl/ha, this is the first vintage with the new cellars, François-Xavier Maroteaux owner and new president of the Union de Grands Crus de Bordeaux."
