Bordeaux 2024 En Primeur

This has a strong following with Tanners customers and it's easy to see why. Crafted by the makers of Domaine de Chevalier this is a lovely, simple, straightforward glass this year, very soft and elegant and extremely easy to drink.

Tasted in Bordeaux and at Tanners HQ this is absolutely stunning this year! The blend of tropical fruit with zesty freshness is beguiling, with a soft, voluptuous core swathed in bright, lemony purity. Lovely feel in the mouth, and then a clean, fresh finish. Superb and probably the best Doisy Sec we can recall tasting.

From one of the best performing properties of the campaign, the Caillou blanc is charming, modest, soft-textured but ripe and redolent in the middle. It rolls round the mouth with juicy freshness, quite linear and very lush in style, absolutely delicious. For those who like their white Bordeaux with a little new oak and more on the sumptuous side, look no further.

This is a five-star wine, as Olivier Bernard pronounced. That subtle mix of tropical lushness with more vivid citrus, and plenty of it, underpinned with some supple oak that gives tightness at the moment, but it should relax. A ripe, waxy feel on the finish with a very pure, clean edge. Hugely harmonious, a total pleasure to drink.

Great nose, superb balance reinforcing this superb vintage. Lashings of melon, white peach and ripe grapefruit. The texture is memorable, generous and supple yet vivid with bright acidity. Extremely long in the mouth with a richness of fruit on the finish. Outstanding.

This vintage suited the late-harvest, botrytis affected sweet wines. There was enough hot summer weather to achieve ripeness but with excellent balancing acidity for freshness. These six wines are quite diverse in style, from the unctuous richness of Suduiraud through to the lemony light freshness of Liot. Standing out this year are Doisy-Daëne and Myrat which have a fabulous feel, while Doisy-Védrines and Coutet are a touch denser and will last longer. Case Contents: 2x Château Liot, Sauternes 20242x Château Doisy Daëne, 2e cru classé Barsac2x Château Doisy-Vedrines, 2e cru classé Sauternes2x Château Coutet, 1er cru classé Barsac2x Château Suduiraut, 1er cru classé Sauternes2x Château Myrat, 2e cru classé Barsac

Appealing red fruit nose with plum and raspberry coming through. Some richness and breadth here, fine acidity around a core of juicy red plum, with sleek tannins, making the overall feel elegant and precise. Refined early drinking, lightweight and immediate, a good glass of claret.

Attractive loganberry fruit with a little spice behind. Typically juicy with fine freshness, the wine is held together by some chalky tannin, the finish is round and soft. A good value, very typical, early drinking wine.

The impact of Beychevelle is showing, with blacker fruit than others, a lovely spicy nose and some clean fresh raspberry in behind. Juicy round and generous on the palate, it does have a slightly hotter, fuller feel than others, more punch and weight than many, and attractively put together. One of the denser styled wines this year, and quite appealing for it. 3 – 7 years.

Spice and sandalwood make this an attractive, raspberry fruited claret. Low yields and no chaptalisation lend a natural, balanced feel to it, with a bright, soft structure. Short term drinking here, with less new oak than usual. Smooth, an appealing, easy wine this year. 3-7 years.

Easy red fruit with floral notes on the nose, a soft and generous shape in the mouth, very pleasing with ripeness. Quite simple but approachable early and very drinkable, not trying too hard. Delicious.

Offering up attractive crunchy red fruit and hints of violet on the nose, the palate delivers a satisfying lick of bright acidity on the palate. Not plush in style, the fruit notes are focused, giving it an appealing precise character. Accessible and subtle with a lightness of touch, this is a nicely balanced Peymouton which will drink from the get-go.

Saintem is part of the incredibly impressive Durantou stable that includes L’Eglise-Clinet. We haven’t managed to taste yet but based on the high praise from many critics who have, including Matthew Jukes, and the price, we are happy to recommend it. Matthew loves its intensity and depth, noting more structured tannin and a 'brooding feel' - he suggests this is a keeper for the vintage, ten years probably which is longer than most.

A little cracker from the Ausone stable. Dark fruit with good mouthfeel after a pretty nose. Very silky soft tannin around a fruit salad finish, good balance if light in stature but delicious, easy, satisfying early drinking from this vintage. A winner, and classy to boot. 0 – 5 years.

The ‘pet project’ of talented winemaker Denis Durantou until his death in 2019 continues to wow the critics. We haven’t tasted it but include it as a brilliant example of modern fruit (60% Merlot blended with 40% both Cabs) on superb limestone soil so it has a lush feel, easier acidity yet good framing and power. The critics are effusive with praise for this top performing stable.

Rather leafy, curranty nose but then swish ripe black cherry and raspberry on the palate with is very nice and round. Soft and immediate structure with length and enough tannin to work. A friendly, early drinking wine with some style. 0 - 5 years.

Mulberry and damson with a note of violet behind, very attractive. Good concentration in the mouth, soft and round, then a ripe damson finish with tempered acidity and chalky but supportive tannins. Early drinking but with more depth of flavour than some. 3-7 years.

A lovely, generous, fruity nose all red cherry and red plum. Spicy on the mid-palate with more ripe red plum, almost ‘plum crumble’ in the mouth, quite delicious. Clean and fruity finish with enough structure to hold it together. A short-term winner. 3 – 7 years.

Good pronounced damsony nose leads on to mulberry and a hint of cassis on the palate. Fine fresh acidity, linear and pure in the mouth, finishes with a light feel after a lush start. One to drink early.

Noticeable crunchy red fruit on the nose and in the mouth, then soft and round in the mouth with fine tannins under control, the whole wine feeling very easy and supple. Elegant and fluid with a satisfying finish, light in weight but showing well in the Margaux line-up, that pretty side coming through. Well made as usual. 3-7 years.

Nice spicy character on the nose develops on the palate, mingling with red plum and raspberry. Tidy and restrained, the whole feel is charming and measured, easy without trying too hard. Delicious. 0–5 years.

Super colour but quite closed on the nose. Good dark damson fruit in the mouth, layered with chalky tannins and a bit of grip. Density is good to work here, while the fruit takes over in the finish. Good. 3 – 7 years.

The 2024 Lafleur-Gazin has hints of green pepper and flora before an energetic core of red and blueberry fruit notes kick in. Quite traditional in character, this is medium-bodied, well-balanced and elegant with a lovely touch of spice and evident cherry tobacco notes on the finish. A very polished effort.

A good colour with a fruit compote nose. Light bodied with a fair bit of grip, the layers of red plum and blackberry are ripe and fresh. Good length, with a raspberry finish. Well balanced and clean, this is quite a short term wine that has a light, savoury, almost old school feel, but the structure to go longer than some of its peers. Decent effort. 3-7 years.

A ‘go to’ Pomerol for many, the 2024 has put in a very respectable performance. Showing plenty of backbone from the off, there’s little in the way of hard edges and plenty of dark fruit, cedar and hints of liquorice to go around. Fresh and vibrant, with well-integrated oak, Bourgneuf has succeeded where others have struggled.

Ripe and stylish on the nose, followed onto the palate, a mix of raspberry and damson. Well balanced with a better shape and balance than many, mid to light-weight in frame bit fills it well. All round smooth and consummate winemaking with a prettiness this year. Very attractive mid-term drinking. 3 - 7 years.

Rather closed on the nose, the black fruit actually flows through on the palate with a nicely tempered feel, quite generous, layered and fairly lush with more length than some. The fruit character is a bit subdued at the moment but has potential – the purity and framing is there. Not as great as the ripe recent vintages, but a nice, worthwhile effort.

Using 14% Cab Franc alongside 72% Cab Sauvignon gives great aromatics here. There’s more density than in others, and a juicy but quite ripe blueberry character, again a bit unique. It’s polished, fresh and very enjoyable, certainly a winner with more presence than usual.

The stand-out Pomerol at the Union des Grands Cru tasting for us, stuffed with classy black and red fruit, very suave in the mouth for this year - finesse yet plenty of stuffing. It feels plush, unlike many, with ripeness and structure, yet very much under control. the finish is swish and elegant. Certainly special this vintage and dropped to a decent price for this quality. Very good mid-term drinking.

Very attractive red plum nose with substance in the mouth, juicy core and very correct. However, it lacks good ripe fruit on the palate, there’s more of a light, savoury note and the oak currently shows more on the finish. Needs time to flesh out, but has the trademark breeding if it can get there. 3 – 7 years.

One of the ripest but still pure and fresh on the nose, and a lash of spice behind. Cassis comes on to the palate with blackberry and damson. Well formed, juicy and balanced, it has roundness throughout with fine tannin holding it together. Immediately pleasing, stands out from the neighbours. 3 - 7 years.

As always there is much to like here, like an immaculately tailored suit – elegant and sophisticated. Bramble fruit backed but spice, soft and integrated yet with a fine tannic structure. Raspberry and mulberry flavours build to the finish. Very pure, very enjoyable, delicious in the mid-term, simply enjoyable all round.

Quite pronounced violet and damson nose, there's then a big feel about this with power, structure and relatively fat in the mouth, surprisingly so. Impressive upfront with plenty of stuffing, fairly simple in shape and does fall away towards the end. A pretty immediate wine that may mature quickly. 3 – 7 years.

Very good ripeness of fruit here, a mix of red plum and black mulberry. Linear in the mouth, elegant with juicy fruit and light tannin, this is a wine to enjoy soon. Clean and precise finish.

A bit of a star this year. Superb blackberry fool on the nose pushes on into the palate. Its bright with good energy, lovely ripeness backed by nice oak. There’s a gentle fluidity in the mouth, poise and freshness behind, almost succulent, more so than many. Mid term delicious, tempered drinking. 5 – 15+ years.

Really delicious, enticing nose of dark plum, damson and mulberry with hints of graphite and pencil lead. Swirls around the mouth, not as high in acidity as some but lovely balance and effortless poise and shape. Smooth texture and silky tannin, with some presence, longer in the mouth and clean in the finish. Mid-weight, very lovely. 5 – 15 years

Léoville Barton stood out at the Saint Julien tasting. It has dark, rich, sweet fruit, currant in front and coffee bean behind. It’s intense, quite fluid in shape with a pure, juicy finish but with more generosity (and ripe fruit) than many. There’s a seamless structure that the best tend to show, and while mid-weight it is built to go longer than many. 5 - 15+ years.

Great nose, very evocative and forward with wild strawberry, red plum and mulberry in there. This is supple, fluid with generous but poised fruit in the mouth, gorgeous in structure, a blend of sweetness and freshness, effortless and very harmonious, a stellar effort.

Dark in colour, bold black pastille flavours with a fresh line. Fleshy in the mouth if not very complex, it is linear with a full-bodied, texture centre and a belt of clean acidity on the finish. Practically no loss to mildew, there’s a feel of concentrated, clean fruit and for mid-term drinking. Worth buying if you like the clean, organic Pontet style. 5-15 years.

Fragrant, red-fruited and charming, this is a straight forward, very well crafted Saint Emilion from the Thienponts this year. The tannic stucture is present, fine grained and holds the body together well before a shot of freshness and purity finishes off. Subtle this year, for drinking soon.

High quality winemaking has delivered a polished and precise wine this year. Straightforward and linear plum character, beautifully ripe and clean, real intensity with vivid acidity underpining it, before a bright finish on a slightly saline frame. Mid weight with intensity and panache missed elsewhere, this Canon has an extra factor that pushes it in front of its peers.

A great colour, then a gushingly vibrant Cabernet nose with graphite and cedar in the mainly dark plum and black cherry nose, then currant on the palate, juicy and fresh on the finish. Montrose has effortless fluidity, mid weight texture and succulence but shows the finesse of Saint Estephe this year. Brilliant, its svelte shape the hallmark of the more poised wines like Lafite and Figeac in this vintage. Top recommendation. 5-15 years.

This Château rarely puts a foot wrong and 2024 is no exception. Full of expression, there’s enticing aromas of crunchy red fruit and cassis, followed by hints of rose and a melange of floral scents. This is such an impressive effort, super precise, glossy and medium in weight. The tannins are juicy, whilst the fresh acidity completes a very harmonious and complex Bélair-Monange. Another fine release from this in form estate.

Built along the same lines as Montrose this year, although less stoney and more salty in the finish. Lots of purity and good rich red plum character, a fleshy core with good texture, quite large in the mouth although mid-weight and not very persistent. Attractive juicy softness all wrapped in fine tannin, fresh in the finish. A good drinker at the right price, with more ripeness than many. A very good effort. 5 – 15 years.

Almost 100% Merlot, the 2024 LFP is a triumph. Sensuous and sleek, there is evident wafts of spice, violet and cedar on the nose, whilst the palate delivers a very complete, composed core of damson and red fruit. Finishing long with touches of spice and tobacco coming to mind, it’s a super effort.

Hugely impressive and aromatic nose, a compote of luscious fruit. On the palate it is much more measured, elegant and poised. Lovely svelte feel, everything beautifully in balance yet long and promising. An ‘old style claret’ says Alexandre Thienpont.

For many this is the Right bank wine of the vintage. An assemblage of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the L?Eglise offers up super, intense aromatics of black cherry, smoke, mint and cassis. Medium bodied, it deftly delivers power and elegance together with an energetic tension which is truly impressive. Despite the use of 85% new oak, it?s well-balanced and finishes with hints of spice, graphite and crushed stone. A superb wine, end of!

The most structured wine of Pessac, unsurprisingly, with supple texture, lovely richness of flavour and very fine tannins. Not a big wine, simply beautifully put together with a classy feel and the promise of complexity to come. Brilliant. A wine worthy of First Growth status.

This is very good. Cassis and cranberry on the nose, lovely tones followed by more cassis and blackberry on the front palate, soft and alluring before the power kicks in behind. Beautiful balance from ripe tannins, pure but ripe fruit and prodigious length. Still has layers in this ‘simpler’ vintage, and the whole wine has real presence. Superb. 5 – 15+ years.

Wonderfully pretty, floral nose, mostly red fruit but some mulberry and loganberry darkening it slightly. Then pure red fleshy plum on the palate, very clean and pure, and a lushness towards the finish. Good density, excellent length, a really smart wine this year with bags of class and purity, right at the top of the pile.

As impressive as ever. A very correct and imposing wine, certainly as good as any on the Right Bank. They picked the entire harvest in 2.5 days and sorted everything minutely. The result is a wine that's soft, ripe, svelte and classy. The lump of Cabernet Franc drives it, with glorious aromatics and a great structure. There's density, depth and, in a lighter year, a good core of black fruit that balances the acidity and freshness. Delicious. 5 -15+ years

Beautifully textured and tailored, Lafite is lighter framed than Mouton, very classic and precise. Mostly raspberry and ripe red plum comes through with superb silky tannins. Good length, not a show-stopper but elegant and a firm recommendation if the price is right – it has class and finesse. 5-15 years.

PRESENTED IN A WOODEN BOX  A 3-Bottle BOTTLE (2.25L) A good colour with a fruit compote nose. Light bodied with a fair bit of grip, the layers of red plum and blackberry are ripe and fresh. Good length, with a raspberry finish. Well balanced and clean, and a light, savoury, almost old school feel, which makes it quite a short-term prospect in bottle, but the structure to go longer than some of its peers, especially in this larger format. Decent effort and a good bit of fun! 3-7 years.