![2022 Bordeaux: Inflection Point](https://cdn.magzter.com/1461950688/1685722269/articles/yod8Jlwxu1686738452044/2022-BORDEAUX-INFLECTION-POINT.jpg)
In early April, I spent two weeks visiting some of Bordeaux’s top producers to get a handle on their newest vintage, 2022. This is the period known as en primeur, when the wines are offered to the trade for eventual sale to individual consumers. The wines themselves won’t be delivered for another two years, which raises a fundamental question about the process: Why buy now?
In the past, consumers could benefit directly from buying en primeur because the initial offering prices were typically lower than subsequent releases of the wines, known as tranches. Consumers who acted quickly were able to secure their favorite wines—and then, in many cases, to resell them years later at a profit. Those days came to a crashing halt with the 2009 and 2010 vintages, when châteaus raised their prices to never-before-seen levels, fueled in large part by an overheated Asian market. With the increase in prices, the chance for the initial buyers to profit down the road ended.
During en primeur, the wines of Bordeaux go from château to courtier to négociant to importer to distributor to retailer, with each of them taking their markup along the way. When the château starts off with a high price, there is little room for profit at the end of that chain. Most châteaus now just have a single release, as tranches have become a thing of the past. All of this diminishes the potential upside for those buying early.
Denne historien er fra July 31, 2023-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 31, 2023-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![New Zealand's Success Story](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1814904/fhF2R9kE21725454233158/NEW-ZEALANDS-SUCCESS-STORY.jpg)
New Zealand's Success Story
From small beginnings, the country’s wines have ascended to global prominence
![Wine Is Healthiest Choice for Drinkers](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1814904/bNgAfgoAD1725454072713/WINE-IS-HEALTHIEST-CHOICE-FOR-DRINKERS.jpg)
Wine Is Healthiest Choice for Drinkers
Decades of research has linked light to moderate drinking, especially of wine, to a range of health benefits.
![In Pursuit of the Perfect Crust](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1814904/jj6M57hNe1725453580139/IN-PURSUIT-OF-THE-PERFECT-CRUST.jpg)
In Pursuit of the Perfect Crust
“Dough is always the hardest challenge for any home chef,” explains chef and restaurateur Tony Gemignani. “But it’s the foundation of any great pizza.”
![SEAVEY VINEYARD](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1814904/bGoO4sdEM1725453374573/SEAVEY-VINEYARD.jpg)
SEAVEY VINEYARD
In Napa’s Conn Valley, a family-run winery marches to its own drum
![CALIFORNIA RHONES Show Their Range](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1814904/W1voV3Nji1725453151377/CALIFORNIA-RHONES-SHOW-THEIR-RANGE.jpg)
CALIFORNIA RHONES Show Their Range
RECENT VINTAGES DELIVER EXCELLENT REDS AND WHITES IN AN ARRAY OF STYLES
![Tuscany Comes of Age](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1814904/y_LzD2lfQ1725452659318/TUSCANY-COMES-OF-AGE.jpg)
Tuscany Comes of Age
Anchored by the 2021 vintage, Tuscan reds set a new standard of quality
![The Absolute Best Places to Eat and Drink in America](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1814904/Aw63FoIv61725450436666/THE-ABSOLUTE-BEST-PLACES-TO-EAT-AND-DRINK-IN-AMERICA.jpg)
The Absolute Best Places to Eat and Drink in America
PROFILES OF THE 63 WINE SPECTATOR GRAND AWARD WINNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY, AS THE PROGRAM MARKS ITS 44TH YEAR
![Events- A Grand Tour for Wine Spectator- a perfect day with an evening of outstanding wines.](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1744787/mK92qb18o1720683188524/crp_wine-wine-spectator-cabernet-wine-tasting-New-Orleans-New-Orleans-Marriott-Jon-Batiste-New-Orleans-Jazz-Las-Vegas-wine-industry.jpg)
Events- A Grand Tour for Wine Spectator- a perfect day with an evening of outstanding wines.
A young couple in shorts and festival shirts sped into the ballroom of the New Orleans Marriott on a mission.
![Big Wine Players Target Pinot Noir - Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they're looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1744787/bnZk3qduE1720682575283/crp_Williams-Selyem-Pinot-Noir-Daou-Gallo-Family-wine-wine-sells-US-wineWine-Spectator-winelabels-Constellation-brands-Meiomi-winery-Robert-Mondavi-winery-Sea-Smoke-Winerie-Chardonnay-vineyard-Santa-Barbara-County-Bob-Davids-California-wineries-California.jpg)
Big Wine Players Target Pinot Noir - Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they're looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they’re looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
![Restaurant Awards- Lazy Bear- Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it's so much more.](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1744787/30JZIYK5-1720681622927/crp_Barzelay-California-Lazy-Bear-restaurants-restaurants-awards-foodie-California-wines-best-restastaurants-San-Francisco-Mission-District-restaurant-San-Francisco-restaurants-David-Barzelay.jpg)
Restaurant Awards- Lazy Bear- Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it's so much more.
Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it’s so much more. This Mission District restaurant effortlessly strips away the formality of a multicourse dinner and replaces it with conviviality, nostalgia and curiosity. With reverence for time and place, Lazy Bear is an ode to California where guests dine in concert with the season and can explore diverse wines, including an impressive collection of older California vintages.