Even after a 20% price drop, 2024 Grands Crus are competing with the cheaper and better rated 2017s and 2021s

fter surveying around one hundred Bordeaux wines launched as En Primeur this spring, strategic consultancy Wine Lister registered an average price drop of 20% for 2024 vintage wines in relation to the 2023 vintage (already down by an average 22% compared with 2022). The analysts note that the average reduction in 2024/2023 pricing is lower than market expectations (-31%) and in their study they stress that “the comparison between release prices in the United Kingdom and average market prices of the last ten vintages reveals a substantial drop in value of 30%”.

Despite this, “market response continues to be lukewarm: buyers are more cautious than ever and prefer to keep their distance”, summarises Wine Lister. It also comments that “ironically, several 2023 releases with deep discounts are competing with ‘lesser’ bottled vintages boasting higher ratings – most notably 2021 and 2017 – often available at lower prices”. The consultancy in fact believes that the 2017 vintage is very comparable to the 2024 vintage in terms of average critics’ scores.

Wine Lister notes that “a large part of the conversation surrounding En Primeur focuses on price decreases in relation to releases the previous year”, but also reverts to the campaign fundamentals: not just price but quality. “2024 is a very good vintage for dry whites and several red gems stand out. They shine even brighter because of the lower volumes and attractive pricing. After all, diamonds form under pressure”.