Author: Dirk Chan
Bordeaux is one of the few wines in the world where they present their wines for sale long before it is even bottled. It is called En Primeur (or Futures). deVine has had a tradition of offering the great wines from great Bordeaux vintages in our Futures program since the store’s inception. We have presented large Futures for the heralded 2005, 2009 and 2010 vintages, with smaller offerings in 2008 and 2011. The 2015 will rank with 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010 as the best since the new millennium, so those of you wanting a great Bordeaux vintage in your cellars, then you must participatein this must have 2015 vintage.
The prices won’t be cheap as 2011 through 2014 were merely good, so the Bordelais will definitely want to make some money with this vintage (there are rumors of a 15-20% increase over 2009 and 2010 pricing). Given the current economic climate, we will be doing things differently this time around. It is not wise to have excess stock sitting around, so we will be consulting with you beforehand and purchasing only what has been committed by you. We will still have some stock for sale upon release, but it will be more limited than for 2009 or 2010.
Open tastings for critics start in early April, we then await the scores from major critics (Wine Spectator and Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate among others) and then in late April or early May, the wines dribble out on offer over the course of a couple of weeks.
Thus, we are asking you to contact us as soon as possible to let us know:
1) what your total budget
2) what your average price per bottle
3) class of wine (First Growths, Super Seconds, Third-Fifths Growths, Cru Bourgeois or Petit Chateaux)
4) desired appellation(s) (Left Bank – St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, Margaux, Pessac, Haut Medoc, Medoc or Right Bank – Pomerol, St. Emilion, Satellites)
5) if you know of specific Chateaux you definitely want, please let us know ahead of time
6) if you have a vertical of a particular Chateau going, please let us know
You can convey this information to us via email (to info@devinewines.ca) by end of day April 30th, but we prefer you drop in and talk to us so we get all the basis covered. Beware who you buy futures from – this is like the stock market, wines are purchased years before they are even bottled and a lot can change in barrel – it is wise to consult with experts prior to purchasing and from those with a proven track record. We have been doing this for awhile and have delivered on every single bottle purchased from us En Primeur. Our free consultation will help you choose from the masses of supply out there and provide you with some great Bordeaux for your cellar at the budget that suits you.
This year, we require full payment upfront (this locks the wine in irrespective of exchange rate fluctuations) and the wines will arrive in the store mid-year 2018. What is not sold in Futures program will be put on the shelf for sale upon their arrival at a 20% premium thus it is wise to buy now to ensure you get your hands on some and at a better price.