Producers in some of the most famous regions in the world of wine release their wines to the market early before they’ve been bottled, while still in the barrel. For example, the 2018s from Bordeaux, not due for bottling until later this year, were offered to our customers during the Spring of last year (2019). These won’t hit our customers’ cellars in the UK until the Summer of 2021, three years after the harvest and two years after they were made available to buy.

The release price of en primeur wines excludes UK duty and VAT (Currently £26.76 on still wines and 20% respectively).

The en primeur concept of buying was created to give the producer much needed cash while their stock was tied up ageing in expensive barrels.

For many now, the need for cash is not so pressing, but the free large-scale marketing and publicity surrounding the calendar of releases means that various regions have an engaged and captivated audience of consumers ready and waiting to buy en primeur, so the system has changed little over the years.

The most obvious answer is the price. To incentivise buyers to part with their cash, Chateaux, Domaines and Wineries price their releases attractively at en primeur, with the general rule of thumb that the latest release should be the cheapest available on the market. If that’s the case, there’s a very good chance the price will go up once the wine is available physically, in bottle. In turn, that can create a secondary market for many wines, which has led to an increased interest in investment in wine.

You might also buy at en primeur because a wine you follow closely or have a particular fondness for can be difficult to get hold of. Buying en primeur often guarantees you the option to buy that same wine again the following year, in what is known as an ‘allocation’. If a wine becomes very popular, it may be impossible to get hold of outside of having an allocation.

There are certainly benefits but also some risks. The market price for any wine may fall as well as increase after release. Using a long-established and trusted merchant is the best way to negate some of these.

For example, 2008 Ch. Lafite was released en primeur in Spring 2009 at £1,850 per 12 bottles (under bond*). Within a year it was trading at over £6,000 per 12 bottles, and within two years of release was trading at over £14,500 per 12 bottles, a whopping 680% increase on the release price.

However, by the end of year three following its release, it had dropped to below £5,500 per 12 bottles, leaving anyone who bought on the way up, out of pocket. Today it trades at just over £6,000 per dozen. A tidy profit for those who bought it en primeur.

2008 Ch. Lafite is a rare exception to what is usually a very steady market. On average, a sought-after wine from a good vintage might see a bump of between 10% and 20% when it is released physically.

The price of the wine includes insurance and shipping to the UK but is exclusive of Duty, VAT and any shipping to your home address once released from bond. When the wines arrive in the UK, Duty and VAT can be deferred further if the wine is stored ‘in bond’ in a registered bonded warehouse. If you intend to re-sell your wines in the future, it is advisable to store them in bond. Duty and VAT are charged at the prevailing rate. Currently UK duty is £26.76 per case (12x75cl) and VAT is 20% but these may change at any time. Delivery fees available on quotation.

Bordeaux wines are tasted in the April after the vintage. The wines then spend on average a further 12-24 months in barrel, plus additional time for bottling and shipping to the UK, arriving around 30 months after the harvest. As an example, Bordeaux 2018 will arrive (‘land’) in the UK early to mid-2021. Burgundy wines are tasted in the autumn, the year after the harvest. The wines are bottled after around 10-18 months in barrel and landed in the UK 18-24 months after the harvest. As an example, Burgundy 2018 will land in the UK in late summer/early autumn 2020.

On receiving your order and settlement, we send you a ‘Cellar Certificate’, as proof of ownership ‘Ex-Cellar’, i.e. your wine is still in barrel at the estate. On landing in the UK, the wines are stored in bond (‘IB’), on your behalf, in our Customer Private Reserves (see our cellarage terms for more information). On arrival of your wines in to our bond you will be notified and asked for any further delivery instructions.

Duty & VAT correct as of May 2020. Other duty rates apply to Sparkling & Fortified wines. No other discounts or offers apply to En Primeur wines (online offers, case discounts, Reward Card Points and Free Delivery do not apply).