Wine Spectator: Bordeaux Kicks Off 2022 Futures Campaign

Some of the biggest names in wine are making a splash this month. Bordeaux’s top châteaus have begun releasing futures of their 2022 wines, in a vintage that looks like the best in several years. The question now is whether the futures campaign will find a receptive audience.

The en primeur system allows consumers to secure bottles of top classified growths while the wines are still aging in château cellars. Château owners get their money up front. Ideally, consumers get the wine at a cheaper price than when it’s released two years later. But that isn’t always the case, and recent vintages of many wines have not appreciated in value.

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator senior editor and lead taster for the wines of Bordeaux, recently visited the region and tasted nearly 200 wines from dozens of châteaus. He found that 2022 is a fantastic vintage in the making and should easily surpass recent years. The weather was hot, but consistent, and all the major varieties—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and the late-ripening Petit Verdot—performed well. Yields were low. All of those factors point to higher prices, and négociants tell Wine Spectator they expect prices to rise 15% to 25% at top estates.

But there is little consumer appetite for price hikes. Europe is facing hard financial times, China is enduring a post-Covid slowdown, and while the U.S. dollar is strong, America is battling inflation and a possible recession. Plus, wines from the 2018, 2019, and 2020 vintages are still available for purchase now. Over the coming weeks, Wine Spectator will track the latest futures prices as they’re announced.

Tagged : Bordeaux, Wine Spectator

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