Wine Cellar’s Johan Malan has just returned from Bordeaux, where he spent nine days visiting the region’s superstars and tasting a plethora of wines. With the 2023 en primeur campaign now drawing to a close, he’s put together two terrific cases to take out the guesswork when buying primeurs. We’re also offering the opportunity to buy loose bottles of any available wines.
CASE 1 – Bordeaux 2023: Best Value Reds
These incredible reds have a potential average score of 93.3 and offer ridiculous value at R6,171 per 12-bottle case! Only 12 cases available.
| PRODUCER | APPELLATION | CRITIC RATING | QTY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barde Haut | Saint-Émilion | 92-94 AG | 1 |
| Cantemerle | Haut-Médoc | 92 JA | 2 |
| Clos Manou | Médoc | 92-94 NM | 1 |
| Côte de Baleau | Saint-Émilion | 90-92 NM | 1 |
| De Fieuzal | Pessac-Léognan Rouge | 94-96 WA | 1 |
| Grand-Puy Ducasse | Pauillac | 93-95 AG | 1 |
| La Pointe | Pomerol | 92-94 NM | 1 |
| Laroque | Saint-Émilion | 94-96 NM | 2 |
| L’Esprit de Chevalier | Pessac-Léognan Rouge | 91-93 NM | 1 |
| Malartic-Lagravière | Pessac-Léognan Rouge | 95 JA | 1 |
Price: R6,171 per case. Email Johan@winecellar.co.za to order.
CASE 2 – Bordeaux 2023: Superb Whites
You cannot speak about great Bordeaux without considering the whites, especially in 2023. These wines have a potential average score of 94.3. Order a six-bottle case for R8,989 – only six cases available.
| Producer | APPELLATION | CRITIC RATING | QTY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blanc de Lynch Bages | Bordeaux Blanc | 92 JA | 1 |
| Domaine de Chevalier | Pessac-Léognan Blanc | 96 JA | 1 |
| La Clarté Haut Brion | Pessac-Léognan Blanc | 93 JA | 1 |
| Latour Martillac | Pessac-Léognan Blanc | 92 JA | 1 |
| Malartic-Lagravière | Pessac-Léognan Blanc | 95 JA | 1 |
| Smith Haut Lafitte | Pessac-Léognan Blanc | 98 JA | 1 |
Price: R8,989 per case. Email Johan@winecellar.co.za to order.
Finally, at the top of the hierarchy, we have a couple of loose bottles of Cheval Blanc (98-100 WA), Haut-Brion (98-100 JA), Lafite Rothschild (98-100 JA) and Château Margaux (97-100 AG). Knocking at the door of these First Growths in terms of quality are Palmer (98-100 AG), Montrose (97-100 WA) and Léoville Las Cases (98 JA). These are now available in single bottles.
Bordeaux is a complex landscape, like all other fine wine regions. Each side of the Gironde river has different soil types, exposures and consequently varieties and styles of wine. And this is exactly why we love Bordeaux – it offers something for every palate. Due to continued global economic pressure and geopolitical tensions, producers are more focused on quality than ever. Add to that the great value on offer in 2023, and you have a compelling case to stock up on Bordeaux!
See our full list of available wines here.
WHAT IS BORDEAUX EN PRIMEUR?
Also known as ‘wine futures’, en primeur is the method of purchasing wines early, offering customers the opportunity to secure an allocation while the wines are still in barrel. Purchasing en primeur guarantees the supply and volume of a certain wine and, in most cases, at a better price than the future release price. Vintages like 2019, 2020 and 2023 offer attractive buys as the Euro prices denote a fair discount to previous years.
