Where to Taste 2013 Bordeaux Wine En Primeur for April, 2014

If you’ve never been to the En Primeur tastings in Bordeaux, there is nothing else like it in the wine world. With a production that is close to 45 million cases of wine per year, every top Bordeaux chateau welcomes thousands of visitors to taste their latest vintage. In this case, it’s the 2013. I know 2013 Bordeaux has already been slammed by the press, and with the weather, harvest and vintage reports, there is good reason to be skeptical about the quality of the wines. But it is the responsibility of professional tasters to actually taste the wines before rendering an opinion on the wine and rating them. At that point, it is then up to the market to decide if the wine represents a good, reasonable or poor value for the money.

While the week is devoted to tasting wine, there are few chateau you will want to see during the week, as they have all just finished their state of the art remodels. In the Medoc, don’t miss Pichon Lalande in Pauillac and Chateau Montrose in St. Estephe. In the Right Bank, Chateau La Dominique is ready for its debut as well.

The official start of the yearly En Primeur Bordeaux tastings is slated for Monday, March 31. However, a few early birds seeking the worm will have the chance to get a jump on the tastings. For those few souls, a few tastings will take place as early as Saturday, March 29. There are an endless array of options to taste wine in Bordeaux during En Primeur. I prefer to set my own pace and schedule. On average, over a two week period, I visit about 60 different chateaux and attend about a dozen large tastings hosted by negociants, consultants and appellations. This allows me the opportunity to taste at least 500 different wines. It’s hard work, but someone has to do it. I try tasting wines from all ends of the specturm, from the First Growth chateau on down to numerous small chateaux. However, most people do not taste as many wines, they usually pick and choose the wines they are most interested in tasting.

For background on the 2013 Bordeaux vintage and harvest, this links brings you dozens of exclusive, interesting, 2013 Bordeaux harvest and vintage interviews. 2013 Bordeaux Harvest Reports, News, Interviews and Photographs

If you are going to be in Bordeaux to taste the 2013 Bordeaux vintage, these are some of the better, more comprehensive tastings you can attend. If you know of other En Primeur tastings, please post or contact me with the information so I can add it to this page.

Primeurs week the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux 2013 Bordeaux En Primeur tastings

The following chateau will be open to taste 2013 Bordeaux for professionals in the wine trade from Monday, March 31 until Friday, April 4.

Chateau Lafon Rochet – Pauillac and St Estephe
Chateau Lagrange – St. Julien
Chateau Marquis de Terme – Margaux
Chateau Malartic Lagraviere Pessac Leognan
Chateau Clarke – Medoc, Haut Medoc, Moulis and Listrac
Chateau Gazin – Pomerol
Chateau la Dominique – St. Emilion
Chateau la Lagune – Sauternes and Barsac

For more information on the UGCB tastings Contact Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux. http://ugcb.net/

Tasting Association Great Classified Growths St. Emilion 2013 Bordeaux En Primeur tastings

April 1 – April 4 Bordeaux Grand Theater
April 1 – April 4 Chateau La Tour Figeac St. Emilion

Contact and registration: Virginia Larramona virginie.larramona @ agccse.fr

Tasting Saint-Emilion – Pomerol – Fronsac

Starting March 31 to April 4.

Contact www.vins-saint-emilion.com/

Cercle Rive Droite tasting 2013 Bordeaux En Primeur tastings

Trade and the press April 1 and April 2 at Place de la Bourse a Bordeaux from 9:30 am to 11pm[email protected]

Pessac-Leognan 2012 Bordeaux En Primeur tastings

March 31 to April 4 Chateau Carbonnieux Pessac Leognan

Contact and registration: [email protected]

Ulysse Cazabonne

March 30 – April 5, located next to Rauzan Segla in Margaux

Contact –  www.ulysse-cazabonne.com

THE GRAND VINTEX TASTING is not being held this year. Email sent to [email protected]

Dourthe is hosting their annual trade only tasting at Chateau Belgrave, Monday, March 31 to Thursday, April 4, 9am – 6pm. For more information, [email protected]

Stephane Derenoncourt 2013 Bordeaux En Primeur tastings

Chateau La Gaffeliere – Saint Emilion

From Monday, March 31 to Thursday, April 4, 10am to 7pm.

Contact: [email protected] – www.derenoncourtconsultants.com

Michel Rolland Team 2013 Bordeaux En Primeur tastings

Wines produced by the team of Michel and Dany Rolland.

Monday March 31 – April 4 from 10:00 to 18:00 at Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot in St. Emilion.

There will also be a tasting of just the Michel and Dany Rolland owned wines at Chateau Le Bon Pasteur in Pomerol.

Contact: Michel Rolland [email protected]

Hubert-de-Bouard 2013 Bordeaux En Primeur tastings

March 31 to April 5 at Chateau Angelus for the de Bouard owned wines

March 31 to April 5 Chateau La Fleur de Bouard in Neac, Lalande de Pomerol for the de Bouard consulted wines.

[email protected]

Jean-Luc-Thunevin 2013 Bordeaux En Primeur tastings

The wines of Jean Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud, along with wines from various estates they work with as consultants and negociants in Bordeaux and in other wine regions takes place, March 31 to April 3 from 9am to 6pm, 3-7 rue Vergnaud Saint Emilion

Contact: [email protected]

Michel-Rolland-Collection

April 7 Friday, April 12, 2013, from 10:00 to 18:00 at the Château Le Bon Pasteur in Pomerol

Contact: [email protected]

The wines of Stephan von Neipperg and Silvo Denz

Starting Monday, March 31 to April 4 at Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere St. Emilion

Contact [email protected]

The wines of Bernard Magrez 2013 Bordeaux En Primeur tastings

March 31 to April 4 Chateau Fombrauge St. Emilion from 9 am to 19 pm

March 31 to April 4 Chateau Pape Clement 9 am to 19 pm

Registration reserved for professionals www.bernard-magrez.com

Jonathan Maltus

The wines of Jonathan Maltus will be showing the full slate of his portfolio. The tastings will be held starting March 31 and be available during the entire week. The tastings will take place at Chateau Teyssier in St Emilion. Contact Myriam Carrre [email protected]

Lalande de Pomerol tasting

March 31 to April 4

Grand Hotel de Bordeaux

Contact Nathalie Diffi: [email protected]

Tasting Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superieur Futures

Starting March 31 – Contact invitation: Planet Bordeaux luiza.hamdi maisondesbordeaux.com

Tasting Cotes de Bourg

Starting Monday, March 31 Contact Didier Gontier [email protected]

Wine tasting Union Graves

More than 50 different producers of red and white wine will be presenting their wine. Contact [email protected]

Sweet white Bordeaux Wine Tasting

Contact Maitena IDIART [email protected]

Listrac Medoc 2013

Contact: [email protected]

Biodynamic-Tasting

Monday, March 31 to April 3.

The Syndicat des Vignerons en Culture Bio-Dynamique will be showing 2013 Bordeaux as well as older vintages and in addition, close to winemakers from Alsace, Champagne, Bordeaux, Corse, Sud-Ouest, Loire et Cotes du Rhone will also be showing their wine. For more information: www.biodyvin.com

Crus Bourgeois tasting Alliance

From Monday, March 31. Contact: [email protected]

Stephane-Touroundji and Thomas-Duclos

Starting Monday, March 31, close to 40 wines will be presented. Contact: [email protected]

Tasting Futures Bio d’Aquitaine

The Castel Group will be hosting a tasting at Chateu Montlabert in St. Emilion, April 1.

Please, if you know of other 2013 Bordeaux En Primeur tastings, please either add them to the comments box, or send me an Email and I will add the information to the post.