2024 - a challenging Bordeaux vintage

The 2024 Bordeaux vintage is in many ways a very debatable vintage. In the face of inflation, political upheaval and a "non-alcohol" trend, the drink of the gods doesn't have it so easy anyway.

This is particularly true for Bordeaux and especially for this vintage in these times. This is also and not least due to the previous two vintages, which were characterised by opulence and high prices. However, the actual decisive mistake in the special constellation of the so-called "En Primeur" business was the issue price of the 2021 wines. This was the first time that an unwritten law was broken in Bordeaux. Previously, you could always rely on a weaker vintage being cheaper than the previous bigger vintage. It is certainly debatable whether the prices were reduced far enough in the past, but they did go down.

In the case of the 2021 Grand Cru Classé, however, the wineries maintained the price level, triggering a disastrous chain reaction. The subsequent 2022 vintage, which is probably one of the greatest ever produced, simply had to be more expensive and the successor 2023 was also too expensive - despite the excellent quality and price reduction - as the overall price level was too high. Above all, a certain ignorance of inflation and the associated high interest rates led to considerable annoyance among Bordeaux fans, from the négociants to the merchants and the actual private buyers.

It was actually clear to everyone involved that all of this had to have consequences. The 2024 vintage was therefore not under a good star and there was all kinds of speculation about quality and price in the run-up to the start of the subscription.

And this is exactly where this vintage comes into its own.

Due to the specifications and the ever-increasing pressure from consumers (and ultimately the trade), prices will be very favourable. In fact, they will be so interesting that you can finally enjoy buying a Bordeaux vintage again. Because the quality is remarkable. Thirty years ago, such a vintage with its extreme weather conditions would have been really difficult. But the latest methods in the vineyard, especially the increasingly perfected selection in the cellar and the parcel-specific fermentation, the result is astonishing!

Certainly not every wine is a success. But the wines that are interesting for subscription score with maturity, balance and freshness - and in the end with an early, hedonistic drinkability.

Due to the weather conditions, the wines have an animating but ripe acidity, plenty of juiciness and finesse. The aromas are characterised by red rather than black fruits. Raspberry, strawberry and sour cherry flavours are often reminiscent of Burgundy.

We will, of course, be very selective and only present the wines that we consider to be successful. To do this, we travelled to Bordeaux and tasted everything, sometimes several times. Naturally, there will be fewer cru wines on offer in such a vintage than in 2022 or 2023, for example. And due to the considerably smaller production volume as a result of the weather conditions, a subscription is likely to be worthwhile again.