As critics continued to tour Chateaux and taste the 2024s in Bordeaux, the En Primeur campaign nevertheless kickstarted in the second half of April, despite the absence of many scores.
Since then, we’ve been pleased to read reports from Neal Martin, Jane Anson, Antonio Galloni and James Suckling that match our own assessment of the vintage from our visit to the region last month. Read below some of the key vintage observations and top scores from these authorities on Bordeaux, and sign up to our En Primeur mailing list here to ensure you receive our upcoming offers.
Jane Anson
A self-confessed “outlier” compared to other critics, Anson does not award banded scores for wines En Primeur. In 2024, her top score of 97 points was given to only five Chateaux: L’Eglise Clinet, La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, Les Champs Libres, Pavillon Blanc and Coutet. In her report, Anson confirms that the “white wines were a clear highlight” of the vintage.
With regard to the difficult growing conditions – as discussed in our Vintage Report – Anson notes that “the best estates leaned in to the vintage, making lighter-weight elegant wines that will be ready to drink earlier than recent years, and that have lower alcohols”.
The crux of the 2024 campaign, Anson believes, lies in the pricing. As we have already seen several key estates release their wines at significant discounts to previous vintages, the tone of the campaign appears to have been set and we anticipate the releases to come will – and should – follow suit.
Top Scoring Wines
- 97 points | L’Eglise Clinet, Coutet, La Mission Haut Brion Blanc, Les Champs Libres, Pavillon Blanc
- 96 points | Lafleur, Margaux, Doisy-Daene Sec, Valandraud Blanc, Ausone
- 95 points | Canon, Figeac, La Fleur-Petrus, Petrus, Doisy-Vedrines, Brane-Cantenac, Ducru Beaucaillou, Lafite Rothschild, Troplong Mondot, Leoville Poyferre, Montrose, Cos d’Estournel Blanc, Doisy-Daene Semillion sur Calcaire, Doisy-Daene, Haut Brion Blanc, Rieussec, Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, Suduiraut, Beausejour Duffau Lagarosse
Neal Martin
We waited with great anticipation for Neal Martin, one of the most respected Bordeaux critics, to publish his En Primeuer report, entitled ‘Event Horizon’. Echoing Anson, Martin favoured 2024’s white wines over the reds, giving some of his top scores to La Mission Haut Brion Blanc, Haut Brion Blanc, Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc and Doisy-Daene.
2024 is labelled as “an inconsistent vintage” which resulted in disparity between the “haves and have-nots”, as Martin notes, only increasing. Therefore, “given the obstacles placed along the growing season, any 2024 that scores above 90 points is a success“.
Liv-ex analysis has shown Martin’s average score for the 2024 vintage to be 92.6. When compared to the 2013 vintage, which scores an average 88.5, it is clear the 2024 has the upper hand and “in terms of drinkability and approachability“ this vintage “can be perceived as a virtue, especially coupled with the lower alcohol levels we have been clamouring for”.
Top Scoring Wines
- 96-98 points | La Mission Haut Brion Blanc
- 95-97 points | Vieux Chateau Certan, Trotanoy, Haut Brion Blanc, Lafleur, Lafite Rothschild
- 94-96 points | Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, Doisy-Daene, Les Carmes Haut Brion, Guiraud, Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, Palmer, Petrus, Lafaurie-Peyraugey, Mouton Rothschild, Margaux, Latour, Montrose, L’Eglise Clinet, Coutet
Antonio Galloni
Combining sentiments from both Anson and Martin, Antonio Galloni’s report concludes that while “it is no secret that Bordeaux endured a challenging growing season… the most skilled winemakers found a way to make gorgeous wines“. However, Galloni posits that the success of this En Primeur campaign depends upon pricing, writing that “if the wines sell, owners have set the correct prices. If they don’t, they have not. That’s all there is to it. Nothing more, nothing less.”
He highlights his “Magnificent Eight” that are “particularly remarkable because they outperform the overall vintage“. These are as follows: Beychevelle, Clos Puy Arnaud, Cos d’Estournel, Jean Faure, Larcis Ducasse, Lascombes, La Conseillante and Rauzan-Segla.
Top Scoring Wines
- 95-98 points | Rauzan-Segla, La Conseillante, Cos d’Estournel
- 95-97 points | Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, Doisy-Daene Extravagant, Haut Brion Blanc, Les Carmes Haut Brion, Canon, Troplong Mondot, Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, L’Eglise Clinet, Beychevelle, Beau-Sejour Becot
James Suckling
Published only yesterday, James Suckling’s report on 2024 Bordeaux highlights the approachable nature of these wines. He writes that the best 2024s “will be drinkable a few years after release“. These are “lighter Bordeaux that are easy to drink young”, giving an additional upside for buyers who won’t need to pay for decades of storage to age these wines.
Suckling remarks that “the quality is very good for the top wines considering how difficult the grape-growing season was”, highlighting Chateaux Latour and Lafleur as unicorns of the vintage. On the whole, the 2024s are “lighter Bordeaux that are easy to drink young” and as “prices are coming down” this vintage presents real opportunities.
Top Scoring Wines
- 98-99 points | Haut Brion Blanc, L’Evangile, Lafleur, Latour, Pavillon Blanc
- 97-98 points | Angelus, Ausone, Cos d’Estournel Blanc, Haut Brion, L’Eglise Clinet, La Mission Haut Brion Blanc, Leoville Las Cases, Les Carmes Haut Brion, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild, Petrus, Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, Vieux Chateau Certan
