Bordeaux 2012: Chateau Gazin first release of en primeur

As expected, Pomerol’s Chateau Gazin became the first Bordeaux estate to release its en primeur wine this week, coming out at an ex-Bordeaux price of €39, a reduction of 7.14% on last year’s price of €42 ex-Bordeaux.

It was joined today by Chateau Lilian Ladouys (down 5.71%) at €9.90 ex-Bordeaux, and Chateau Caronne Ste Gemme at €7.20, the same price as 2012 as part of the stable pricing policy of the Rendezvous Médoc chateaux.

Elise Fournier, niece of Nicolas de Bailliencourt at Chateau Gazin, told Decanter.com that as a family property, the key drive behind setting the price was ‘stability’. She said, ‘We want to set a reasonable price, while recognising the quality of the wine.’

Gazin is the first release proper after the en primeur tastings last week, although Etablissements JP Moueix released its prices in the Belgian market, around 15% down on last year, the week before en primeur, and has now released into the UK market, with six bottles of La Fleur Pétrus on offer from Lay & Wheeler at £498.

Bordeaux négociants reported brisk selling of Gazin this morning, although most UK merchants said the drop did not fully recognise market conditions. ‘Not enough to get people buying again,’ said European Fine Wines.

Written by Jane Anson in Bordeaux