Federal Wine & Spirits

Bordeaux En Primeur 2024:

To Buy or Not To Buy

With the uncertainties around tariffs and currency conversion, the 2024 Bordeaux campaign will be different from any I have offered in the past.

The 2024 vintage is expected to start shipping in June 2027. We hope the wine tariff will be removed by then. If not, our negociant has agreed to store 2024s at no cost for you and us until tariffs decline.

Re currency: One negociant quotes us in dollars,.So, I can provide guaranteed dollar pricing, but we are offered only limited quantities at these prices. I will list my recommendations and the details on the Federal website at www.federalwine.com or email me at mike@federalwine.com. I need to point out that this means that the price will not go up or down with dollar fluctuations.

 Regarding quality, the 2024 wines are fresh, with upfront fruit and a well-balanced profile. The alcoholic content is not at the levels of vintages like 2020 or 2022. There were severe weather issues throughout all of Bordeaux. Variations within each commune make it very difficult to generalize.

 Those vineyards with the best knowledge of their vines, the most advanced procedures in sorting and vinification of their grapes, and the guts to hold off on harvesting produced excellent wine. Others did not. The 2024s are not as concentrated or extracted as the 2022s, yet for the best, there is an incredible elegance and refinement that’s reminiscent of the classical Bordeaux of the past. 2024s will be ready sooner than those from the more recent great vintages, wines to enjoy in the near term while the 2022 and 2023 vintages reach maturity. They will probably not last the 50+ years projected for some 2022s. but the best will be able to live for 30.

Pricing for the major chateaux is expected to be released by the end of May. Our website lists releases through May 11 and will be updated weekly starting May 17. I will send out email Yet-to-be-released smaller châteaux will be 10% less than in 2023. I anticipate the pricing of the top classified wines to be 20-30% less. You might need some advice on this vintage, as it offers bargain prices but varies in quality. Please email me. I will do my best to help.

All prices are net per bottle and do not include tariff. I have listed those wines that have small allocations

OF PARTICULAR NOTE

Montrose, Lynch Bages, Branaire Ducru, Gruaud Larose,

Ferriere, Durfort-Vivens, Haut Bailly, Haut Bages Liberal

2024 Chateau Montrose, St. Estephe—One of the picks of the 2024s. 

Antonio Galloni, Vinous,” exudes Cabernet Sauvignon character in its aromatic savoriness and tannic structure. The 2024 has the most Cabernet Sauvignon ever: tightly wound today, the 2024 impresses with its energy and focus. There's a bit less mid-palate and overall heft than most years, as well as a brighter fruit profile. Floral, spice, and mineral overtones lend brightness throughout. The 2024 is a super-classic, nervy Montrose that will need several years to reach its most expressive stage.” 

Neal Martin, Vinous “The well-defined and very able nose demonstrates classicism, fine delineation, and a hint of florality that is more pronounced than in the Terrasse III. The palate is medium-bodied with very finely chiselled tannins and a keen line of acidity. This symmetrical Saint-Estèphe is blessed with an elegant, sapid, and reassuringly precise finish that the estate seems to have honed in the last few years. It does not have the unbridled ambition of, say, the 2020 Montrose, but it is exceptionally well crafted and will become a fine Saint-Estèphe.”

Colin Hay, Drinks Business “The Left-Bank wine of the vintage. Organic certification will come this year; a colossal amount of work with up to 200 people working in the vineyards. It is. Even more intense in its florality. Again, wisteria and now with a little iris too. Many wines of the vintage have a bulbous character to their florality. Not here. This is all about the petals. It’s very delicate. There’s a hint of violet too but it doesn’t overpower the more subtle floral notes that feel very natural and that take the limelight. Graphite and deep dark berry fruits on the palate – black berries, brambles and mulberries. A little red cherry. The fruit profile is rather more familiar than for the Terrace III wine. There’s more gravitas, depth and profundity too. The wine also seems to gather more towards the bottom of the mouth and has more amplitude in its depth. It’s a little more serious but never austere. I love the contrast.. 

$124 Orders in Multiples of 3 bottles, vs. The 2023 at $165. 3 or 6 bottle OWC available. Large format on request

This may be the lowest you will see Montrose for this quality.48 bottles available.

2024 Chateau Montrose “La Dame de Montrose”, St. Estephe

one of the few 2nd labels I recommend. 

Colin Hay, Drinks Business 73% Merlot; 20% Cabernet Sauvignon; 4% Petit Verdot; 3% Cabernet Franc; organic certification will come this year. So Montrose already, with lovely intense dark glossy berry fruits that are so pure and precise and pixilated in their detail. There’s a trace of Montrose graphite too and a little wild raspberry and loganberry. Broad in frame, but not too broad, with lovely layers of cashmere. A wine of great purity and clarity but with lovely grip and shape from the tannins drawing the wine downwards horizontally in the mouth. Clean and long on the finish.

$39 Orders in Multiples of 6 bottles, No OWC

2024 Chateau Branaire Ducru, St. Julien - Value Pick

Antonio Galloni, Vinous “a super-classic Branaire. Medium in body and gracious, the 2024 is defined by its lifted aromatics and silky, polished tannins. The proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon is especially high in 2024, a sign that the fruit harvested on the later side benefited from better conditions, namely a lack of rain. The 2024 possesses lovely purity and exquisite balance. Floral top notes and a burst of red-toned fruit reappear on the finish to round things out in style. It will be especially fine if élevage softens the contours. This is a fine effort from proprietor Francois-Xavier Maroteau and longtime winemaker Jean-Dominique Videau. Tasted two times.”

LPB, Wine Independent “Deep garnet-purple in color. Gives up bold notes of red currants and black raspberries, followed by hints of red roses, bay leaves, and underbrush with a hint of wet slate. The light to medium-bodied palate is silky and refreshing with vibrant red berry layers and a long peppery finish." 

Colin Hay, Drinks Business “13% alcohol; tasted twice…. Another great success from Branaire-Ducru – and it’s release price something of a no Bra(i)n-er (if you’ll excuse the pun). This is very spherical at the core with a dense, fully-charged mid palate. Brambles and damsons and dark plum and assorted stone fruits, a little hint of wild Italian herbs and crushed green peppercorns. There’s an interesting floral note too that I can’t quite pin down to a single descriptor – wisteria doesn’t quite capture it but is the closest I seem to get. Sapid and juicy, long and racy on the finish, with a note of dark chocolate appearing right at the end.”

$43 Orders in Multiples of 6 btl OWC

2024 Chateau Gruaud Larose, St. Julien---one of top wines of vintage. 

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Gorgeous dark ruby colour with vivid reflections, slow and steady reveal of grilled earth, savoury rose bud, peony, black tea and floral Cabernet finesse. This is a little softer than the recent exceptional vintages of Gruaud, but the fragrant aromatics have a ton of charm, and this shows skilful construction. Yield, slap bang on the appellation average, organic certified. 40% of production is in this 1st wine. 95% new oak for ageing. 

Colin Hay, “12.39% alcohol; certified organic; Profound and very beautiful aromatically. Yet slightly introverted and a little closed at first. Damson, blueberry, berry, black currant, and subtle cassis with gentle aeration. Blanched almonds and a little of their creaminess. In the mouth, there’s some Griotte cherry, a hint of peony and maybe lily of the valley too. Succulent and luxurious in its texture. Suave, quite full and ample in frame, this pushes at the cheeks. I love how the fresh juiciness seems to gather at the top of the palate and, with a sensation of greater viscosity, glide down the cheeks like ‘tears’ descending the sides of a glass. Not, of course, the density and concentration of the last couple of vintages, but beautifully managed, very vibrant and fresh, and yet with no astringency or dryness. In fact we have a lovely juiciness on the finish and we are left with a very persistent sensation of chewy grape skins”

$67 Orders in Multiples of 6 btl OWC—At this price I anticipate active sales. Don’t sleep on this. large formats on request. 60 bottles available

2024 Chateau Ferriere, Margaux-- Same ownership as Dufort Vivens. $

Jeff Leve, Wine Cellar Insider “Flowers, red currants, and cherries already pop in the nose. On the palate, the wine is zesty and crisp, with a blast of peppery cranberries and bright, crunchy red plums that remain with you from start to finish. The wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot, 10% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. 12.2% ABV. Drink from 2028-2040. 

$38 per bottle. Orders in Multiples of 6 packed as OWC. Large formats available

2024 Chateau Dufort Vivens, Margaux--- 

Antonio Galloni, Vinous “ laced with dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, licorice, spice and mocha. It offers gorgeous texture and fine balance. The pliant, creamy mid-palate is especially appealing. The 2024 is naturally still coming together, but it is a striking, beautifully rendered wine.

Colin Hay, Drinks Business “certified organic and biodynamic; …Richer and fuller, more ample and generous than Ferrière. Creamy too, with a lovely walnut oil and walnut shell note alongside the crunchy dark berry and damson fruit. There’s that signature black cherry note too. A gentle florality, less immediately expressive than in recent vintages, but it’s there and it will come through more and more with élévage and bottle age – lily of the valley and peony predominantly, maybe a little wisteria too. A scratch of green peppercorn. And, with air more and more cedar and, with it, a touch of violet and finally those rose petals. In the mouth this is really impressive, with a sense of depth and profundity and, indeed, of layering that is present in this vintage only at the very top of the pyramid. Cool, very fine and dominated by that dark Cabernet fruit. The mouthfeel is exquisite, the tannins always present but in a gently pixilating way, picking out details from the sea of cashmere that forms the tactile mid-palate here. Fresh and lifted on the finish, with the tannins pinching and lifting the wine to a pleasing crescendo. A sprig of mint on the finish.”

$50, Orders in Multiples of 6 btl OWC.

 A thought; Have 6 btl 750ml packed as a 12 btl/375ml OWC at $26 per Half

2024 Chateau Lynch Bages, Pauillac—

Antonio Galloni, Vintus :Packed. Cedar, scorched earth, licorice, incense and pipe tobacco weave through a core of dark, sepia-toned fruit. I especially admire the long, polished finish and overall balance here. The 2024 is a virile Lynch Bages with a bright future. Tasted two times. 

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux “Ruby with violet edging, opens to show chalk and slate tannins, giving a sense of restraint and grip, this is savoury and juicy with plenty of cassis fruits, delivers Pauillac consistency in an inconsistent vintage, and also it is just rather delicious.“

$90 Orders in Multiples of 3 bottle , 6 btl OWC available. 36 bottles available

2024 Chateau Haut Bages Liberal, Pauillac

Falstaff  "Strawberries, black raspberries, currants, cocoa, and floral aromas fill the aromatic profile. The wine is medium-bodied, vibrant, and crunchy, with sweetness surrounded by its natural acidities, and juicy, red currants in the finish. The wine blends 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV. 3.57 pH. Yield was 30 hectoliters per hectare. Harvesting took place September 24 - October 4. Drink from 2029-2045." -

 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider Dark ruby, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Fine plum fruit, candied orange zest, a hint of tobacco and cassis. Medium complexity, fresh cherry fruit, lively structure, harmonious, lemon, the limestone contributes to the liveliness, an animating food companion. 

$37 Orders in Multiples of 6 Btls OWC

2024 Chateau Haut Bailly, Pessac-Leognan

Falstaff “ Strong ruby, purple reflections, subtle ochre rim brightening. Nuances of blackberry and cassis, a hint of plum, tobacco-like herbal savouriness, candied orange zest. Juicy, elegant, ripe heart cherry, finesse-rich acidity, mineral, extra-sweet and delicate on the finish, sure maturity and certain ageing potential, already very harmonious.” 

Colin Hay, Drinks Business rated the Haut Bailly slightly higher than Haut Brion in 2024; “13% alcohol; around half of the total production; …There were no problems of coulure and millerandage here. Sandalwood, graphite, a hint of cedar, plump and plush dark berry and damson fruit. A little pink and green peppercorn. Subtle wild floral notes – small spring flowers. Sage and sprigs of thyme. So soft and gentle on the entry, hyper-layered a little like Don Giovanni’s list of conquests – each time you get to the bottom you find another line, another layer! Super refined, ultra-elegant and transcendent of the challenges we associate with the vintage. A very subtle note of red liquorice. So fine and gentle, so lithe and poised. A very great success. A lovely evolution in the glass too as the cedar starts to emerge. It’s actually very classical.” 

$86 Orders in Multiples of 3 bottles. 6 btl OWC available. 36 Bottles at the price, down from 2022at $166, and 2023 at $125.

Terms

Payment Due on Confirmation

Delivery Spring to Fall 2027

Any taxes or tariffs will be due on arrival

           - Michael Hechler

• Return to
• Share this article
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter