▻ En Primeur with Jane Anson

10 Minute Masterclass

24 Apr

Written By Sarah Kemp

In conversation with Jane Anson

Episode Summary:-

In our latest 10 Minute Masterclass, Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp take a timely look at En Primeur, or Futures as it is called in the US. This April, 6,000 of the world’s wine trade and journalists have descended on Bordeaux to taste the latest vintage. Jane discusses how the system works and its history. She says, “There are a couple of ways to tell how good a vintage is supposed to be by the number of people who come (to taste En Primeur).” There are in fact very few châteaux in Bordeaux who sell their wines via this system – around 200-400 max, with the attention on the top 150-250 names. Sarah and Jane debate whether there is still a financial advantage to buying En Primeur, and discuss the issue of ownership, as the wine is owned by the chateau until delivered, even though the consumer has paid a merchant.; they caution that buying from a reputable merchant is essential. Jane’s notable obscure fact is that the person who established – in court – the ownership of the wine which is sold En Primeur was none other than Jean-Michel Cazes of Château Lynch Bages.

““There are a couple of ways to tell how good a vintage is supposed to be by the number of people who come (to taste En Primeur).””

— Jane Anson

Running Order:-

0.00 – 6.13

“Cash flow is what En Primeur is about (for the Châteaux).”

– How En Primeur works.
– Journalists review wines with no knowledge of price.
– Historically, grapes were bought before harvest to secure production.
– In the late ‘70s and ‘80s, En Primeur was offered to consumers.
– The tiny proportion of Bordeaux châteaux which sell En Primeur.
6.14 – 10.36

“If you buy Petrus, you can pretty well guarantee a rise in price.”

– Buying En Primeur – is there still a financial advantage?
– Who owns the wine when a consumer buys En Primeur.
– The importance of buying from a trusted merchant.
– The obscure En Primeur fact.