En primeur offer: Bordeaux 2025

The vineyards of La Garde benefit from the best of the left bank (gravels) and the right bank (limestone), essential in a vintage where water was in short supply. As a result, there’s a sense of coolness to the fruit despite the hot growing season, with great elegance on the finish. Drink from 2032 to 2040. 13.5%

Owned by the Durantou family of L’Eglise Clinet fame, Les Cruzelles is situated to the north of their flagship property in Lalande-de-Pomerol and shares the same clay-based soils ideal for the production of top-quality merlot. The 2025 is full-bodied and powerful, with impressive density but has managed to retain freshness. The tannins are powerful and will integrate over time. Drink from 2030 to 2038. 12.5%

A welcome return after missing out last year, Sénéjac in 2025 is a brilliant example of affordable Haut-Médoc, showing gravelly tannins and old-school herbaceousness on the nose with notes of graphite and dried cranberries. Drink from 2030 to 2037. 13.2%

Owned by the Vauthiers and situated opposite their flagship property, Ausone, De Fonbel is consistently one of the value buys of the vintage. The 2025 can stand shoulder to shoulder with wines four times the price, showcasing great tension on the silkily textured palate, with juicy red fruit and supple tannins. A blend of 60% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 5% cabernet franc and 5% carmenère. Drink from 2030 to 2040. 13%

We all agreed that the 2025 Capbern, under the same ownership and management as third growth Calon-Ségur, is one of the finest we’ve tasted en primeur. Saint-Estèphe produced some of the finest wines of the vintage and the 2025 Capbern is distinctly ‘cool’, with crunchy blackberry and blackcurrant notes, incense and pepper spice, and a long, linear palate. Drink from 2030 to 2040. 13.8%

We’ve been keen followers of Dutruch Grand Poujeaux for a number of years and we feel the 2025 is one of their most impressive vintages to date. Very perfumed with notes of violets, iris and cherry, the palate is tightly wound and powerful with grippy tannins and great purity. Phenolic ripeness occurred before sugar ripeness, and so the wine is concentrated yet only 12.5%. Drink from 2030 to 2038. 12.5%

Part of the Château Laroque estate with Davide Suire of Larcis Ducasse as winemaker, this is consistently one of the best-value right-bank wines. The 2025 is one of the best vintages we’ve tasted: great energy, redcurrant purity, distinct minerality and real class. Drink from 2032 to 2040. 13.5%

Owned by the Delon family of Château Leoville Las Cases, Potensac is located just north of Saint-Estèphe. Like its stablemates, this will take time to come round but could be a brilliant purchase for those looking for an affordable claret to cellar for the medium-to-long term. Mineral, grippy and perfumed, with a touch of class. Drink from 2032 to 2042. 13.5%

Château Lagrange is one of the most improved estates in recent years and this, its second wine, is rightly popular. Bright and red-fruited with impressive density for the price and well-managed, powdery tannins. Already a very complete wine. Drink from 2032 to 2040. 13%

Situated between Listrac and Cussac, Madame de Ducru Beaucaillou is the Haut-Médoc under the umbrella of the second growth Saint-Julien property and is also owned by Bruno Borie. While it doesn’t have the depth and concentration of the grand vin, there is serious skill on show here with delicate perfume, medium body and well-managed tannins. Will gain flesh in time. Drink from 2030 to 2037. 13.9%

Pitray’s flagship wine is a blend of 90% merlot with 10% cabernet franc. This is benchmark Castillon with great depth of savoury fruit, full body and grippy tannins. Nina Mitjavile has added extra complexity to the wine since her arrival and has made this member favourite better than ever. Drink from 2032 to 2042. 14%