Bordeaux 2024 En Primeur Roundup: A Vintage with Something to Prove

There was a certain mood in the air ahead of the Bordeaux 2024 En Primeur campaign – a mix of anticipation and realism. Following the lukewarm reception of recent vintages and a market demanding more bang for its buck, producers were under pressure to strike a delicate balance between pride and pragmatism. Would they meet in the middle?

Several top estates chose to meet the market head-on, recognising that long-term engagement with collectors and investors often matters more than clinging to yesterday’s prices. The First Growths led the charge, with Château Lafite Rothschild releasing at a striking 30% discount to last year’s price, and below any available Lafite vintage, setting a powerful early precedent. Others soon followed.

But price cuts alone don’t make a great campaign. The real story here is the wine. 2024 might not be a blockbuster in the mould of 2016 or 2010, but early critical consensus places it comfortably above a more challenging year such as 2013. As Neal Martin of Vinous puts it, this is a vintage “unequivocally far superior” to Bordeaux’s trickier chapters.

Not every release offers equal value, but there are standouts – wines that combine smart pricing with compelling quality and brand momentum Below, we explore a few of the most interesting wines from the campaign so far – not necessarily the most expensive or headline-grabbing, but those that speak clearly to the strengths of the vintage.

Saint-Émilion has been quietly making some of the most dynamic wines in Bordeaux in recent years, and Pavie-Macquin is a textbook example. The 2024 release, priced competitively and boasting critic scores that comfortably outshine a string of earlier vintages, signals a confident step forward.

Liv-ex Market Price vs Neal Martin Score by Vintage (Château Pavie-Macquin)

Source: Scores from Neal Martin (Vinous & The Wine Advocate). Pricing data from Liv-ex as of 29 May 2025.

There’s a vitality to the 2024, a depth of fruit and a mineral backbone that speaks to the limestone plateau the estate calls home. Under the steady hands of Nicolas Thienpont and consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt, Pavie-Macquin continues its transformation from a quiet achiever to a bona fide star of the Right Bank. For collectors who appreciate a wine with both pedigree and an upward trajectory, this is one to watch.

Just outside the medieval walls of Saint-Émilion, Château Clos Fourtet has long been something of a local legend – and in 2024, it reminds us why. The wine combines a generous core of fruit with a chalky edge that keeps everything beautifully in check.

Wine-Searcher Market Price vs Neal Martin Score by Vintage (Château Clos Fourtet)

Source: Scores from Neal Martin (Vinous & The Wine Advocate). Pricing data from Wine-Searcher as of 29 May 2025.

The 2024 vintage arrives on the market at a lower price than many back vintages despite receiving a stronger critical reception. Under the stewardship of the Cuvelier family and consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt, Clos Fourtet continues to fine-tune its style. The result is a wine that’s as comfortable being admired in its youth as it is holding court in a decade’s time. Savvy buyers might find this one of the vintage’s most quietly confident expressions.

If Château Lafite Rothschild is the aristocrat of Pauillac, then Carruades is its cosmopolitan younger sibling. Crafted from select parcels of the Lafite estate, it offers a more accessible and earlier-drinking experience, although increasingly, Carruades has found itself being treated as an investment wine in its own right.

Liv-ex Market Price vs Neal Martin Score by Vintage (Carruades de Lafite)

Source: Scores from Neal Martin (Vinous & The Wine Advocate). Pricing data from Liv-ex as of 29 May 2025.

The 2024 vintage is priced as the most affordable Carruades currently on the market, a position that’s unlikely to last given the label’s history of steady upward movement. With Lafite’s trademark elegance baked in and a global fanbase that spans continents, this is a release with both drinking charm and staying power.

No list of Bordeaux’s top wines would be complete without a nod to Léoville-Las-Cases. Though technically a Second Growth, many would argue it regularly rivals the Firsts in both quality and longevity. The 2024 vintage is no exception.

Liv-ex Market Price vs Neal Martin Score by Vintage (Château Léoville-Las-Cases)

Source: Scores from Neal Martin (Vinous & The Wine Advocate). Pricing data from Liv-ex as of 29 May 2025.

While not the cheapest Las Cases available, the 2024 sits comfortably within the more compelling end of the pricing spectrum, especially when lined up next to similarly scored vintages. Neal Martin, whose scores carry significant weight in the market, suggests this is a wine likely to gain gravitas in barrel – a familiar story for Las Cases, which often takes its time to show its true character.

This is classic Left Bank claret: structured, cerebral, and deeply rewarding with age. For those prepared to be patient, the 2024 is shaping up as a wine with serious long-term potential.

Other Top Picks of the Vintage

As the 2024 En Primeur campaign unfolded, several releases stood out not for dominating headlines but for landing with precision.

Before the first 2024 releases, we calculated ideal Target Release Prices for all wines by identifying the lowest market price per bottle across vintages from 1996 to 2023, converting that to a 12-bottle case, and applying a 10% discount. This provided us with a clear and consistent framework for evaluating whether new releases offered genuine value.

The following wines may not always command centre stage, yet consistently offer collectors and investors something quietly compelling, particularly when their release prices align so neatly with quality and historical context.

Take Château Clerc Milon (91-93 pts NM), for instance. At £549.60 per 12x75cl case, it came in just below our calculated target release price. This Pauillac estate, part of the Rothschild family’s portfolio, continues to punch above its weight, offering all the hallmarks of the appellation in a slightly more generous, fruit-driven style. It’s a smart buy for those looking to build a diversified Left Bank holding without breaking the bank.

Another familiar name making an appearance this year was Château Kirwan (92-94 pts NM), released at £300 per case. Nestled in the Margaux appellation, Kirwan is known for its expressive floral notes and supple tannins, and in 2024, it looks to have bottled that classic Margaux charm at a very reasonable price point. Just 1% above our target, it’s an easy one to recommend for both drinkers and investors.

Over in Pessac-Léognan, Château Haut-Brion (93-95 pts NM) offered its 2024 vintage at £2,880 per 12x75cl. While this is slightly above our internal target, it remains highly competitive for one of Bordeaux’s most celebrated names. The estate’s unwavering reputation for finesse, age-worthiness, and subtle complexity means that even modest pricing restraint from Haut-Brion rarely goes unnoticed.

Meanwhile, on the Right Bank, Château Angélus (91-93 pts NM) was released at £2,148 per case. While that sits 4% above our calculated target, the wine and name itself may justify the premium. The estate has been steadily evolving its style in recent years, favouring the use of larger oak foudres for a more seamlessly integrated oak character and elegance without sacrificing richness. Early signs suggest that the 2024 vintage continues this promising trajectory.

These estates demonstrate that value in Bordeaux isn’t confined to deep discounts. It’s just as often about consistency, identity, and a clear vision. And in a campaign where pricing has mattered more than ever, these wines show that it’s possible to meet the market without compromising character.

The Bordeaux 2024 Vintage as a Whole

There’s no denying that the 2024 campaign has unfolded against a challenging backdrop.

Global economic uncertainty, shifting demand patterns and a generally cautious buyer base have all contributed to a sense of reckoning. However, Bordeaux has faced tough times before, and its greatest strengths – heritage, resilience, and adaptability – are on display here.

The wines themselves reveal a vintage of careful choices. It was not a year of abundance but rather one that rewarded good vineyard management and thoughtful winemaking. Across appellations, one finds freshness, balance and a sense of precision that will make these wines approachable earlier yet still structured enough to evolve.

The 2024 En Primeur campaign is not a free-for-all. It requires a discerning eye and a willingness to do the necessary research. Yet for those who do, there is real value to be found – not just in price, but in the calibre and character of the wines.

Whether your priority is future drinking pleasure or long-term investment potential, there are wines in this campaign that tick both boxes. And with many estates choosing to prioritise accessibility, the door is open to a new generation of collectors.

If any of the wines featured here have caught your interest, or you would like to discuss the vintage in more detail, we invite you to book a call with a member of our team or your relationship manager to explore purchasing options and allocation availability.

Please note: All data and critic scores are correct as of 29 May 2025. Prices reflect Liv-ex and Wine-Searcher data where applicable. As always, past performance is no guarantee of future returns, and fine wine investments carry inherent risks, including potential capital loss. Wines are subject to availability.