En Primeur News : Wednesday, 23rd May 2012

This morning has seen the usual flurry of releases as we come towards the end of the en primeur campaign. These include some leading estates in Pomerol which, in the opinion of most critics, is Bordeaux's best appellation in the 2011 vintage

Leading the way is La Conseillante who have released at less than half the price of the previous two vintages. £780 per case is 10% cheaper than the current price of their 2008 so must be considered a fair deal.

Clos l'Eglise at £640 per case looks less exciting, especially with their next-door-neighbour Clinet still available at £550. Feytit Clinet is also out, at £380 per case.

In Saint Julien we have the second growth Gruaud-Larose out at £395 per case and Branaire Ducru is a decent deal at £335. In Pessac-Leognan we have the small super-cuvée Branon at £510

The rare Cos d'Estournel Blanc has now been released at £460 per case.

With the release of de Fargues at £780 per case, we now await only Yquem in Sauternes

This afternoon saw the release of La Conseillante's near neighbour Figeac, just over the border in Saint Emilion. After the excessive release prices of the previous two vintages (that resulted in virtually no sales) Figeac have dropped their price from £1800 to £750. However you can easily find Figeac 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004 and 2002 for sale in the market at under £600 per case so there's little enthusiasm for buying the 2011 en primeur. Sadly Figeac is rarely offered cheaper en primeur than when subsequently physically available, thus giving consumers and wine merchants alike very little incentive to buy it.