En-Primeurs 2023: U'wine favourites

Our En-Primeurs 2023 favourites  

As a reminder, the En-Primeur system is a unique practice in the Bordeaux wine industry. A few months after the harvest, when the wine is still maturing in barrel, producers offer négociants and critics the opportunity to taste their wines En-Primeurs. These tastings enable us to anticipate the potential of these Bordeaux wines, and thus predict how they will evolve in bottle over the years. After the first tastings and ratings, the merchants decide whether or not to buy the wines En-Primeurs at a price set by the producer; a price based on an estimate of the wine's quality and potential.  

Find out more about En-Primeurs

Over the past few weeks, we've taken part in several En-Primeurs 2023 wines tastings, either at organized events or directly at the estate. These are great opportunities to meet and talk with passionate winemakers, and to discover and taste Bordeaux wines in order to assess their potential. This year's team was made up of Kate Janacek, our purchasing director; Olivia Fetet, our purchasing and châteaux relations manager; and Aymeric de Clouet, a wine expert attached to the Paris Court of Appeal. For a whole week, they went from château to château to identify the most promising En-Primeurs wines. What emerged for the 2023 vintage: a heterogeneous year; classic red wines with supple tannins and fruit; dry white wines with plenty of aroma and acidity for the best; sweet wines with more acidity and therefore freshness than traditionally found. 

Our opinion on En-Primeurs 2023

Saint Estèphe 

Situated near the estuary and renowned for its abundance of Cabernet Sauvignon, this year Saint-Estèphe has exploited its distinctive characteristics to create inspiring wines of great quality thanks to the diversity of its microclimates. We'd like to highlight Château Calon Ségur and Château Meyney, who stood out in the tastings. Their ability to produce wines that reflect the unique character of this appellation deserves a special mention! 

Our allocations in Saint-Estèphe

Pauillac  

For the 2023 vintage, Pauillac, Bordeaux's largest wine-growing region, surpassed all expectations, arousing widespread enthusiasm: it's a “coup de coeur” for Kate and Olivia. Château Clerc Milon, Château Pichon Baron and Château Lafite Rothschild (which needs no introduction) have made their way into the hearts of our teams. These estates perfectly illustrate the greatness and renown of the Pauillac appellation. Congratulations!  

Our allocations in Pauillac

Saint Julien 

This wine-growing region, a veritable patchwork of soils and grape varieties, demanded a meticulous and attentive approach to our En-Primeur wine tastings. Each winemaker, guided by his ancestral know-how, patiently allowed his grapes to ripen to their full expression, enabling certain wines to stand out. Our hats are off to Château Gruaud Larose, Château Léoville Barton and Château Langoa Barton; three great emblematic figures, guardians of tradition, who presented us with a remarkable En-Primeur wine.  

Our allocations in Saint-Julien

Margaux  

This year, the Margaux appellation proved to be one of the most complex to evaluate during En-Primeurs week, oscillating between moments of glory and challenges to overcome. We congratulate Château Cantenac Brown, Château Rauzan Ségla and Château Kirwan, who presented us with refined wines; a 2023 vintage that promises to be striking.  

Our allocations in Margaux

Pessac-Léognan 

At the heart of this appellation, diversity and excellence take pride of place. This year, the Pessac-Léognan region shone with both red and white wines, buoyed by some remarkable Merlots. The châteaux that caught our eye for their potential in the 2023 vintage are none other than Château Les Carmes Haut Brion, Domaine de Chevalier and Château Fieuzal. 

Our allocations in Pessac-Léognan

Saint Émilion  

In 2023, this region was the scene of various trials, but fortunately, the majority of estates were able to preserve the robustness of their vines despite the appearance of mildew in the spring. Our favorites are undoubtedly Château Cheval Blanc for its noble and elegant En-Primeur wine, Château Figeac for its bewitching texture and Château Jean-Faure, which produced a real gem with a score of 93-95 points - a very fine achievement!  

Our allocations in Saint-Émilion

Pomerol  

Despite weather conditions similar to those in Saint-Émilion, differences in soil composition played a decisive role in the results. Vineyards on gravel and clay soils did particularly well. Our two shared favorites: Château de La Conseillante and Château Petit-Village for their perfectly balanced En-Primeurs wines.  

Our allocations in Pomerol

Sauternes  

The 2023 vintage is proving to be a very good year for Bordeaux sweet wines. This year, Sauternes offered more acidity and therefore freshness than traditionally the case, in addition to remarkable aromatic depth. An opportunity not to be missed for lovers of sweet wines. Our hats are off to Château Suduiraut and Château Lafaurie- Peyraguey, two legends of this appellation.  

Our allocations in Sauternes

En-Primeurs wines have arrived at U'wine!  

The En-Primeurs wines tastings gave us the opportunity to discover wines that promise to become real nuggets in the years to come, and also to meet the winemakers, who presented their creations to us with passion. Each of these En-Primeurs wines embodies in its own way the excellence and diversity of Bordeaux terroirs. 

So, the 2023 vintage proves to be an opportunity not to be missed, and we encourage you to take advantage of our expertise and advice to make the most enlightened choices. 

Browse our En-Primeurs wines catalog