En primeur is a method of buying wines early while a vintage is still in a barrel, offering an investment opportunity to the customer before the wine is bottled.

Buying wine this way allows for cheaper pricing, however it takes experience and expertise to buy the right vintages at the right time.

 

If you want to keep the wines then buying en primeur is a good way to start. There are cost savings, sometimes significant, and you are also guaranteed to get the wines that you want.

It is important to restrict your en primeur purchase to the most prestigious Bordeaux chateaux, the most sought after being the top 50 or so. Those that are more widely available will reduce your opportunity to make a profit.

You can also buy for both investment and personal use if you enjoy your wine, those that you invest in can pay for those you drink.

The choice of vintage, as well as the name, plays an important role in determining the value of a particular wine. Wine critics and industry experts have hailed the 2005 vintage almost unanimously. Consequently, prices have increased significantly. The 2005 Bordeaux has in some instances tripled in value since 2007 according to industry sources.