Bordeaux-Ep-2023
Credit: Luke Carver
(Image credit: Luke Carver)

Major Bordeaux 2023 en primeur releases today (21 May) have included Domaine de Chevalier and St-Julien fourth growth Château Beychevelle, following from Ets. Jean-Pierre Moueix wines yesterday, including highly rated Bélair-Monange 2023.

These three releases at a glance

Prices have continued to drop year-on-year for a Bordeaux 2023 vintage that is emerging onto a challenging fine wine market.

Some 2022-vintage releases were relatively expensive, however, and the availability and pricing of back-vintages at each individual estate remains an important part of the relative value equation for 2023 en primeur wines.

See Decanter’s full verdict on the Bordeaux 2023 vintage, plus ratings and tasting notes on the top-scoring wines

At £720 per 12-bottle case in bond (IB), Château Beychevelle 2023 was positioned cheaper than several back-vintages of this highly regarded St-Julien fourth growth, according to Liv-ex data. 

This was despite only dropping in price by around 11% versus the 2022-vintage release, ex-négociant – demonstrating once again that year-on-year price comparisons provide just one of several useful metrics for considering whether or not to buy new-release en primeur wines.  

Decanter’s Bordeaux correspondent, Georgie Hindle, rated Beychevelle 2023 at 94 points. ‘Really excellent and very accessible, juicy and elegant,’ wrote Hindle, adding that it has the highest-ever proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, at 61%. 

UK merchant Farr Vintners said, ‘This property always gets their price right and, once again, this ticks the en primeur box by reaching the consumer at a lower price than any other vintage in the market today.’ 

It also described the Domaine de Chevalier 2023 (red) price of around £550 (12x75cl IB) as ‘sensible’, noting, ‘This estate delivers second growth quality without the hefty price tag.’

However, Liv-ex said, ‘At this price, today’s release is one of the most expensive vintages available on the market.’ Its data suggested the 2023 vintage was similar in price to the 2016 wine (96pts, Decanter).

Decanter’s Panos Kakaviatos, who co-tasted hundreds of Bordeaux en primeur wines alongside Georgie Hindle, rated the Domaine de Chevalier 2023 en primeur wine at 95 points.

‘A serious Domaine de Chevalier red that needs at least five years of cellaring to fully reward you,’ wrote Kakaviatos.

Ets. J-P Moueix wines

UK merchant Corney & Barrow announced the release of the Ets. Jean-Pierre Moueix stable of wines at the beginning of this week, including top Right Bank names La Fleur-Pétrus, Bélair-Monange and Latour à Pomerol – among others.

Commenting on the early level of customer demand, Will Hargrove, head of fine wine at Corney & Barrow, told Decanter, ‘The Moueix wines have been well received. Not only because of the quality of the wines (most importantly) but because they have listened to the market on price.

Bélair-Monange 2023

‘It is difficult to ignore the enthusiasm that exists for Bélair-Monange and of course La Fleur-Pétrus, but there is also strong demand across the wines – Latour a Pomerol is as much an insiders wine as ever.’

Corney & Barrow offered Château Bélair-Monange 2023 at £590 per six-bottle case (IB), or £600 for a case of three magnums (3x150cl IB). 

St-Emilion’s Bélair-Monange is one of the best wines of the Bordeaux 2023 vintage, according to Decanter’s Hindle, who gave the still-in-barrel wine 98 points after tasting it en primeur.  

‘A fabulous showing for Bélair this year,’ Hindle wrote. ‘Delicious, minty, racy and chiselled; lots of power but so well balanced, charming and sophisticated.’

A 98-point rating puts the 2023 wine level with Bélair-Monange 2022 in terms of pure quality, but slightly below Bélair-Monange 2019 and 2020, which have seen been scored 99 points in-bottle.

Analyst and consultancy group Wine Lister said the price per 75cl bottle was around 31% lower than the 2022-vintage release last year, and 13% down on the 2021-vintage debut, as well as 6% cheaper than Bélair-Monange 2019.

La Fleur-Pétrus 2023

Château La Fleur-Pétrus 2023 has been among the other major releases of recent days. It was released at the equivalent of £1,500 (12x75cl IB), which Liv-ex said was down by nearly 34% on the debut price of the 2022 vintage.

Decanter’s Hindle rated the 2023 vintage at 96 points after tasting it en primeur, below the 98-point La Fleur-Pétrus 2022. ‘Lots of drinkability and charm on offer in equal measure,’ she said of the 2023 wine. ’It has power with a cherry chocolate core, minerality and lots of cool menthol elements.’

Wine Lister said, ‘The 2023 enters the market below all vintages going back to 2014. With small quantities available as per usual, this discount will no doubt help the latest release find demand amongst its loyal followers (and beyond).’ 

Other releases

Other releases in recent days have included Château Gazin 2023 at £582 (12x75cl IB). Its ex-négociant price was €48 per bottle, down around 27% year-on-year, although Liv-ex note that the 2019 and 2020 vintages could be interesting options for buyers looking at the estate’s back catalogue.

In Sauternes, Suduiraut 2023 was released en primeur on 17 May at around £519 (12x75cl IB). It was €43.40 per bottle ex-négociant, down 10% on the 2022-vintage release, but it was still one of the most expensive Suduiraut vintages on the market, showed Liv-ex data. 

Chris Mercer
Chris Mercer

Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.

He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.

Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.

Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.