★

4.8/5

En-Primeur wines 2023 and 2022 : Key Points

Each year, Millésima offers a wide selection of "en primeur" wines, sourced directly from the producing estates and delivered after bottling, usually 18 to 24 months after their release. Prices are set between April and July following the harvest, based on the ratings and scores provided by international wine professionals and critics.

As one of the five largest buyers of en primeur wines on the Bordeaux marketplace, Millésima, with over 30 years' experience, includes not only wines from the leading Bordeaux appellations in its selection, but also from the Rhône Valley, Burgundy, Alsace and the Loire, thus offering you a broad range of en primeur wines.

Discover the 2022 and 2023 vintages en primeur!

Bordeaux 2022 En-Primeur wines

A mild winter favoured vegetative development, followed by frost in early spring, which had a patchy impact on the vineyards of Bordeaux. The relatively warm months of May and June were followed by a scorching summer. Faced with these extreme conditions, and despite the lack of water, the vines proved once again their resilience and ability to adapt and limit water stress. The low rainfall during the summer, along with the great temperature variations between hot days and cool nights in September, offered ideal conditions for ripening and keeping the grapes fresh.

The quality of these 2023 and 2022 Bordeaux en primeur wines is unexpected given the unstable weather conditions, and they will seduce wine lovers due to their finesse, concentration and structure, as well as their freshness sustained by a superb balance.

Burgundy 2022 En-Primeur wines

The 2022 vintage is a generous, high-quality vintage of fine Burgundy wines, the fruit of a wine-making year marked by intense weather conditions. Although the region was hit by a major episode of frost in April, part of the vineyard was protected by a late budburst. Subsequently, the rapid and intense development of the vines heralded an early vintage before a particularly hot, dry summer with limited water stress.

From Chablis, the Côte d'Or and the Côte Chalonnaise, these 2023 and 2022 Burgundy en primeur wines exude the multiple expressions of these great vineyards, with alluringly concentrated, balanced, fresh and lively wines.

The Rhône Valley 2022 En-Primeur wines

The year 2022 began with a cool winter, followed by a mild, dry spring. April was marked by a cold wave, followed by a hot month of May which favoured a rapid flowering. The lack of rain since the start of the year was offset by heavy rainfall in early June, which revitalised the vineyards. This was followed by a heatwave and drought. The grapes ripened early, at the beginning of July. Despite rain at the beginning and end of July, water stress impacted the yield prospects of the vintage. In mid-August, some welcome rain helped to kick-start ripening. Despite the weather, this sunny vintage produced moderate levels of alcohol and acidity.

The 2023 and 2022 Rhône Valley en primeur wines are particularly attractive due to their structure, balance, freshness, delicacy and elegance, resulting from the gradual ripening of the grapes in September.

Alsace 2022 En-Primeur wines

The mild, dry winter preceded a late budburst in early spring due to a lack of humidity. The weather conditions at the beginning of April, combining mild temperatures and regular rainfall, gave way to a warm May, leading to rapid development of the vineyard. The summer was particularly hot and dry, and September was cool and damp, allowing the grapes to ripen gradually and evenly.

Despite this unstable climate, the 2023 and 2022 Alsace wines produced top-quality white wines, combining balance and structure with a lovely freshness and a luscious fruity structure.

Loire 2022 En Primeurs

A mild winter gave way to a mild start to spring, favouring early budburst despite two frosts in April which had only a slight impact on the buds. With little rain, May was marked by a hot and particularly dry period, which encouraged rapid vegetative development. Beneficial rainfall was recorded in June, before a summer alternating between heat and drought. Although there was a delay in veraison due to the hot weather, yields remained high in terms of both quality and quantity, despite a degree of variability from one area to another.

2023 and 2022 in the Loire is a sunny vintage, with freshness and fruitiness combined with superb balance.

2023 En Primeurs in France: A Promising Vintage

Bordeaux, a resilient and harmonious vintage

The 2023 Bordeaux vintage was marked by contrasting weather conditions, with a rainy spring and a late summer. Thanks to the know-how and vigilance of the winegrowers, the vineyards were spared the effects of mildew. The sunny month of September and the cool nights ensured that the grapes ripened perfectly, producing wines of outstanding quality and balance.

Bordeaux wine lovers will be delighted to discover the 2023 Futures, offering a diversity of profiles reflecting the richness of Bordeaux's terroirs and grape varieties. The red wines, predominantly made from the Merlot grape variety, boast enchanting fruity aromas and silky tannins, while the dry white wines, made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, offer exquisite freshness and seductive citrus notes.

A Rhône Valley blessed by a mild climate

Unlike Bordeaux, the Rhône Valley enjoyed particularly mild weather in 2023. Moderate spring rainfall enabled the vines to flower well and grow steadily. The late summer helped the grapes to ripen slowly and gradually, maintaining a perfect balance between acidity and sweetness.

This year, the wines of the Rhône Valley stand out for their exceptional finesse and elegance. The red wines, made mainly from Syrah and Grenache grapes, reveal intense red and black fruit aromas, as well as captivating spicy notes. The white wines, made from Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne grapes, seduce with their freshness and enchanting floral and fruity aromas.

Burgundy, a spared and generous region

In Burgundy, the 2023 vintage was not affected by the heavy spring rainfall. Winegrowers were able to work in ideal conditions and limit the effects of mildew. The late summer allowed the grapes to ripen to perfection, particularly for the region's emblematic grape varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The 2023 en primeur wines in Burgundy promise red wines with enticing aromas of red fruits and spices, as well as an elegant tannic structure. The white wines, however, are characterised by their freshness and mineral notes, with seductive citrus and white-fleshed fruit aromas.

The 2023 vintage in France promises to be a vintage to watch, with weather conditions varying from region to region. Despite a rainy spring and a late summer, winegrowers were able to make the most of these conditions and preserve the quality of their grapes. As a result, the 2023 en primeurs will reveal wines with diverse profiles, reflecting the richness and complexity of France's terroirs. This is a vintage to discover, and one that will excite the most discerning wine-lovers and bargain-hunters alike.

Why buy En-Primeur wines?

Buying en primeur allows you to buy a wine while it is still maturing, in other words before it is bottled and marketed. The en primeur system, initially reserved for the wine trade and open to private customers since the 1980s, helps estates to finance their expenditure and the following year's production, and offers a unique opportunity to own exceptional wines at competitive prices, with a guarantee of authenticity and direct provenance, as well as providing access to rare and special formats.

Would you like to be informed when certain wines are released as en Primeur? Millésima provides a En-Primeur ''Alert Me'' notifications to ensure that you are informed of the release of your favourite wines in real time.

Primeurs Frequently Asked Questions

What are En Primeur wines? When are en primeur wines delivered? How long are the wines available at the en primeur price? Millésima answers all your questions in our dedicated Frequently Asked Questions page.

En-Primeur wines 2023 and 2022

Bordeaux En-Primeur wines

Why buy En-Primeur wines?

FAQ En-Primeur wines