The campaign for the 2024 En Primeur wines – launched in a challenging economic context – definitely marks the return of real buying opportunities. With price drops of 20% and often considerably more, it brings back the original appeal of En Primeur: the chance to buy great Bordeaux at unbeatable prices.
Significant price reductions
This year’s En Premiers have shown how they can adapt, making a significant effort when it comes to pricing with considerable reductions compared to the 2023 vintage and even more so when compared to the 2022 vintage. Examples include Château Lafite Rothschild (€405.20, down 29.2% on 2023) and Château Cheval Blanc (€390, down 27.8%).
They were followed by a broad swathe of Bordeaux’s grands crus: Gruaud Larose (€59.90, –28.7%), Clos Fourtet (€72.20, –26.2%), Branaire Ducru (€37.20, –20%), Pichon Longueville-Baron (€114.30, –21%), Pavie Macquin (€50.40, –25%) Smith Haut Lafite rouge (€87.40, –32%).
Even among today’s most sought-after properties, such as Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, there has been a notable effort on pricing, with a release at €84.50 (–20%).
2024, the most affordable vintage on the market
If we analyse the same wines, it is clear that the release prices for the 2024 vintage emerge as the most competitive in recent years, even when considering iDealwine price estimates, which wasn’t the case for the other recent vintages released En Primeur. In short, buying the 2024 En Primeur today is the most cost-effective way to secure these wines.
And the evidence is compelling; these few examples show that 2024 release prices are consistently the most competitive of the past five years.
Château Lafite Rothschild
| Year | Price | % of reduction vs 2024 price |
| 2024 (En Primeur) | €405.20 | |
| 2023 (En Primeur) | €572.00 | -29.2 % |
| 2022 (En Primeur) | €834.00 | -51.4% |
| 2021 (iDealwine price estimate) | €450.00 | -10.0% |
| 2020 (iDealwine price estimate) | €588.00 | -31.1% |
Even more telling, you have to go all the way back to 1991 (a vintage hit by frost) before you find an iDealwine price estimate below €400 for Château Lafite-Rothschild! Over the last 30 years, the lowest prices recorded were the 1997 (€451) and the 2021 (€450, as it is still a little young) vintages. The 2024 vintage is therefore shaping up to be a real opportunity for buyers.
Château Cheval Blanc
| Year | Price | % of reduction vs 2024 price |
| 2024 (En Primeur) | €390.00 | |
| 2023 (En Primeur) | €540.00 | -27.8% |
| 2022 (En Primeur) | €660.00 | -40.9% |
| 2021 (iDealwine price estimate) | €434.00 | -10.1% |
| 2020 (iDealwine price estimate) | €477.00 | -18.2% |
The same is true for Château Cheval-Blanc, where over the last 30 years only the prices of the 2013 (€371) and the 1997 (€338) vintages were lower than the selling price of the 2024 vintage.
Château Figeac
| Year | Price | % of reduction vs 2024 price |
| 2024 (En Primeur) | €134.40 | |
| 2023 (En Primeur) | €210.00 | -36.0% |
| 2022 (En Primeur) | €352.80 | -61.9% |
| 2021 (iDealwine price estimate) | €200.00 | -32.8% |
| 2020 (iDealwine price estimate) | €243.00 | -44.7% |
Château Gruaud Larose
| Year | Price | % of reduction vs 2024 price |
| 2024 (En Primeur) | €59.90 | |
| 2023 (En Primeur) | €84.00 | -28.7% |
| 2022 (En Primeur) | €97.44 | -38.5% |
| 2021 (iDealwine price estimate) | €70.00 | -14.4% |
| 2020 (iDealwine price estimate) | €75.00 | -20.1% |
Clos Fourtet
| Year | Price | % of reduction vs 2024 price |
| 2024 (En Primeur) | €72.20 | |
| 2023 (En Primeur) | €97.80 | -26.2% |
| 2022 (En Primeur) | €132.00 | -45.3% |
| 2021 (iDealwine price estimate) | €83.00 | -13.0% |
| 2020 (iDealwine price estimate) | €88.00 | -18.0% |
Pavie Macquin
| Year | Price | % of reduction vs 2024 price |
| 2024 (En Primeur) | €50.40 | |
| 2023 (En Primeur) | €67.20 | -25.0% |
| 2022 (En Primeur) | €94.08 | -46.4% |
| 2021 (iDealwine price estimate) | €63.00 | -20.0% |
| 2020 (iDealwine price estimate) | €85.00 | -40.7% |
Do lower prices mean lower quality?
It’s plain to see that this campaign is the most attractively priced in recent years, but is it equally appealing in terms of vintage quality? Or should we read these lower prices as a sign of a weaker quality?
If you’ve read the reports from professional wine tasters and your humble servants (see our 2024 En Primeur tasting notes), you’ll gather that this vintage is variable in terms of quality, mainly due to challenging weather conditions. Yet, it remains a solid vintage overall, with some estates achieving truly impressive success.
It’s important to keep in mind just how far technical know-how has advanced in recent years, and the old equation poor weather = poor vintage no longer really holds. Indeed, harvest sorting techniques have greatly improved, as have the precision and adaptability of winemaking methods to suit the characteristics of each vintage. Additionally, grape varieties, in particular the Cabernets, now reach excellent degrees of maturity even when the weather is not particularly sunny, essentially on account of global warming and rising temperatures.
As a result, most respected properties have produced very good wines in 2024 with a style that is fresh, elegant and approachable, with no hint of dilution, and showing lovely substance. While these wines will be ready to drink relatively early, they also possess the structure required to age gracefully.
Shop all our Bordeaux En Primeur wines
Other articles about the 2024 En Primeurs
2024 En Primeurs | The best wines for cellaring
2024 En Primeurs | Top 10 Bordeaux icons worthy of your wine collection
2024 En Primeurs | 25 Bordeaux for less than €30
2024 En Primeurs – The bestsellers!
2024 En Primeur | Vintage analysis and top picks from Bordeaux
