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Final Call: Should 2013 Bordeaux en primeur be cancelled?

Published:  24 January, 2014

Some leading figures in the UK wine trade have called for the cancellation of the 2013 Bordeaux en primeur campaign, but is it just a select number of critics or a vast majority of buyers?

Some leading figures in the UK wine trade have called for the cancellation of the 2013 Bordeaux en primeur campaign, but is it just a select number of critics or a vast majority of buyers?

Last week harpers.co.uk gave you the chance to have your say in an industry poll. This is your last chance to cast your vote on whether the en primeur campaign should go ahead. 

Critics and producers have different view points on whether or not the en primeur should even take place, but there is a growing feeling that this year's difficult Bordeaux vintage will make it more of a buyer's market.

Bordeaux en primeur wines in recent years have not produced the same type of hype and return on investments that buyers have come to expect for the risk they incur to purchase wine two to three years in advance.

Liv-ex , a publisher of a daily and monthly fine wine indices from price data, recently posted a blog on the pricing of Bordeaux en primeur purchased in recent years, and said: "Once a boon for the fine wine market, in recent years en primeur has left buyers cold. The record release prices of the 2009 and 2010 vintages tested the resolve of the En Primeur market. Failure to re-adjust prices in the following two years effectively killed demand."

Liv-ex further stated: "It would seem ... that buying En primeur no longer benefits the investor."

With another very challenging vintage about to be negotiated and sold, the time may be ripe for change to the en primeur buying model. Buyers have an opportunity to offer lower prices, ultimately changing the dynamic of the event which has traditional been more favourable to producers.

Richard Brierley of Vanquish Wines, a leader in the UK for fine wine investments said: "The big question is what price will merchants be willing to entertain for a vintage that will perhaps drink early and not be suitable for longterm keeping."

What do you think? Please let us know, we look forward to hearing your response.

Do you think there should be 2013 Bordeaux 2013 en primeur campaign and will you be taking part?

Yes, I go every year

Yes, I would if I could

Yes, but not willingingly

No, I couldn't be bothered this year

No, it should be cancelled this year

No, but I'll probably regret it

View poll results

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