The 2025 vintage is being hailed by the Union des Grands Crus (UGCB) as "brilliant," but for collectors, it is a year of historic scarcity and radical classification shifts. 2025 Bordeaux En Primeur watchlist focusing on historic yield lows, Château Lafleur's move to Vin de France, and new Médoc Blanc AOC status.
1. The "Vin de France" Pioneer: Lafleur
-
The Fact: In a seismic move, Château Lafleur has officially withdrawn from the Pomerol and Bordeaux AOC systems starting with the 2025 vintage. All six of its labels (including Grand Village) will now be sold as Vin de France.
-
Collector Strategy: This is a "must-watch" for rarity. The estate cited the need for flexibility to combat climate change (likely irrigation and planting density). Demand for the first "non-Pomerol" Lafleur is expected to be high due to its historical significance.
2. The Left Bank "Old Vine" Survivors (Pauillac & St. Estèphe)
-
The Fact: August heat blockages led to extremely small berries. However, clay and limestone-heavy soils in St. Estèphe and the deep-rooted old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon of Pauillac (Mouton, Lafite, Cos d'Estournel) showed the best resilience.
-
Collector Strategy: Focus on estates with high percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon from gravel-on-clay subsoils. These wines are showing "reassuringly low" alcohol (12.5–13.5%) despite the heat, promising the balance of 2019 with the density of 2022.
3. The New "AOC Médoc Blanc" Category
-
The Fact: December 2025 marks the first month that AOC Médoc Blanc is officially recognized for the 2025 vintage. Historically, these were "Bordeaux Blanc."
-
Collector Strategy: Watch for prestige whites from the Médoc (e.g., Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux, Aile d'Argent). The 2025 white harvest was exceptionally early (starting Aug 12), resulting in aromatic, high-acid wines that may be the "surprise hit" of the campaign.
4. The Right Bank "Precision" Leaders (St. Émilion)
-
The Fact: Château Troplong Mondot began its harvest on August 28—the earliest in its history. Early reports from oenologists like Hubert de Boüard suggest that limestone plateau estates successfully preserved freshness.
-
Collector Strategy: Prioritize Right Bank estates on the limestone plateau (Figeac, Canon, Troplong Mondot). These "cool" soils mitigated the 40°C+ heatwaves, avoiding the "jammy" profile of lesser 2025 Merlot plots.
5. Scarcity & The "Grubbing-Up" Effect
-
The Fact: With 30,000+ hectares being uprooted across the region (primarily in Entre-deux-Mers and lower Bordeaux AOCs), the 2025 vintage is the first of a "slimmer" Bordeaux.
-
Collector Strategy: Expect a supply crunch in second wines and entry-level luxury. While Grand Crus are safe from uprooting, the overall regional volume is 16% below the 5-year average, which may be used by Châteaux to justify firm pricing despite the current global economic cooling.
Why Collectors Should Care:
-
Pricing Power: After the 30% price cuts of the 2023/2024 campaigns, 2025 is expected to see a "correction back up" due to lower yields.
-
Historic Labels: 2025 is a "boundary-breaking" year (Lafleur's exit, New White AOCs, and the death of traditional yield volumes).
-
Climate Resilience: This vintage identifies the estates with the best technical teams and terroir—those who failed the heat of August 2025 will be glaringly obvious in the glass.
Sources: Agreste Ministry of Agriculture Final 2025 Report, Decanter (Lafleur Status), Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (Harvest Technicals), UGCB Press Release Dec 2025.
