Bordeaux 2021 | Vintage Report
Our Bordeaux 2021 En Primeur Report is now available to download. Read our full analysis of the new 2021 vintage which is considered to be an approachable, good quality one that differs in style to the wines from the three previous years.
2021 was the coolest and second wettest vintage in the past decade with frosts, rain and mildew. This meant yields were down significantly in some appellations. Meticulous sorting in both the vineyard and the winery enabled producers to select only the best fruit and this created the finest wines possible.
Critic reports suggested that quality was better than expected and there is a selection of outstanding wines on offer that will bear comparison with the very best and various châteaux have produced some of their highest ever rated wines.
Prospective buyers have been expectantly waiting for the 2021 vintage’s scores and prices. Release prices were expected to be lower than those of the top rated trilogy of 2018, 2019 and 2020 as this is a different style of vintage from a challenging year. However, there were economic reasons that could justify price rises such as inflation, wine shortages and the US dollar’s appreciation against the Euro.
In general, wines have been released at the same price as 2020 – just 1% lower on average. However, some châteaux released at up to 15% discounts, while others at up to a 15% premium with lower scores than last year.
Discover our analysis and the fine wines we recommend fully in this report. While it was a mixed vintage, there are some excellent wines on offer at attractive prices.
To unlock this report, create a profile and become a free WineCap member today
Sign up to our newsletter to receive articles when they are published
Three reasons why the Brexit deal will prevent customers from paying more for their wine.
Ever since the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016, trade talks and negotiations between the two sides had been full of uncertainty, posturing and brinkmanship which at times made it feel like a deal was unobtainable. So, the news that a trade deal – now ratified by the UK Parliament - had been struck on Christmas Eve last year was met with welcome relief across all industry sectors on both sides of the Channel and especially by those looking to invest in wine.
1. The costly VI-1 import documentation for UK and EU wines is no longer going to be introduced in July as previously planned. Taking its place will be a straightforward Wine Import Certificate which asks for basic producer and product information. This means far less admin and fees for wine importers, which in turn means no extra costs will be passed on to customers.
2. Crucially, wines will not have to undergo lab assessment for the new Wine Import Certificate. Submitting wines for lab analysis would have caused backlogs of wines which would have created frustrating shipment delays.
3. While UK wine importers are going to have to get to grips with new processes and forms over the coming months, this is just part of the anticipated bedding-in period which will become second nature as time goes on and as new processes are established.
With the previous uncertainty around Brexit having disappeared with the end of the transition period and with 2021 looking to mirror previous years of healthy returns for fine wine, contact us to speak to one of our advisors about creating your portfolio to invest in wine.
