En primeur

[3] The wines most commonly offered en primeur are from Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône Valley and Port, although other regions are adopting the practice.

[4] In the spring after a year long harvest, merchants and trade organizations will taste barrel samples of wine that are often only 6–8 months old.

For example, the 1982 vintage of Château Latour, was sold at £250 a case en primeur in 1983, while valued in 2007 at £9,000, although the major part of this price increase occurred after bottling.

[6] En primeur can mean the producer is able to benefit from an improved cash flow system and a guaranteed exclusive, potentially high level sale of their product.

This concept has existed in Bordeaux for centuries and was only occasionally used in other areas such as Burgundy, Piedmont, Tuscany, Ribera del Duero, and Rioja.

[7] For the consumer, purchasing en primeur gives them the opportunity to secure wines that may have very limited quantities and be difficult to buy after they are released.