En primeur: Don't ignore lesser vintages

THIS is the time of the year when we can soon expect to see en primeur offers of the previous year's (2016) vintage of Bordeaux wines. The Bordeaux en primeur campaign which opens in May every year offers the previous year's vintage wine, still maturing in barrels in the cellars of the Châteaux, at "opening prices", which are substantially below the prices when the wines are finally bottled and ready for release from the Château's cellars to the Bordeaux market-place. Note that the price is for "unfinished" wine, not the final bottled product.

A short explanation for those readers still unfamiliar with the way the Bordeaux en primeur system works.

There are two advantages to buying Bordeaux wines en primeur.