Text by: Gleb King
We have already posted enough content about Bordeaux En Primeurs 2024 – we did our predictions on the vintage success, we educated you about the pros and cons of buying wine in futures and we even have made the 2024 vintage summary. Time for a list of bottles that are hitting the ideal price-quality ratio. Here we go.
They say every Bordeaux vintage has a story, and 2024's is pure drama: relentless rain, a mildew parade, and some very moody Merlot. Yet, from this soggy saga emerged a few stars. Yes, the reds are leaner, the yields lower (the smallest since 1991!), and the alcohol modest, but those who knew how to work their vines coaxed beauty from adversity. The whites? Positively glowing. The sweet wines? Thrilled by the damp. And the prices? The lowest since 2014. Here’s a closer look at a few that turned puddles into poetry.
Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2024
Always a benchmark, this year it feels like a masterclass. A citrus-and-mineral beauty (90% Sauvignon Blanc), it walks the line between richness and zing with ballerina grace. Pessac-Léognan's well-drained terroirs were a blessing, and it shows. Suckling gave it 97-98, and frankly, he’s not wrong.
Château Rauzan-Ségla 2024
Margaux might have had its share of mildew, but Rauzan-Ségla turned it into magic. The estate's first organic vintage, it’s fragrant, velvety, and balanced, with violet and spice-laced Cabernet Sauvignon leading the charge. Galloni called it "magnificent" (95-98). It’s got poise, polish, and a price that won’t make you wince.
Château Cos d'Estournel Blanc 2024
High acid, high style. This 60/40 Sauvignon/Sémillon blend sings with citrus, plum, and a creamy snap. A wine of texture and energy, it’s one of the vintage’s white showpieces. Suckling went as high as 98. Enough said.
Château Angélus 2024
A Saint-Émilion classic with 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, Angélus is all perfume and poise this year—blackberries, violets, and a whisper of cedar. Sleek and composed, Anson called it "quiet confidence." It's also 31% cheaper than last year. Not bad for a headliner.
Château Mouton Rothschild 2024
Cabernet Sauvignon dominates here (93%), and the result is a Pauillac that’s restrained but regal. Think graphite and cassis on velvet. Critics agree: 97-98 from Suckling, with Dunnuck flirting close behind. Bonus: a 25% price cut makes it oddly attainable.
L’Extravagant de Doisy-Daëne 2024
If noble rot had a fan club, this would be the poster wine. The wet vintage was a gift to Barsac, and this tiny-production (just ~100 cases) marvel is rich, electric, and endlessly layered. Galloni called it all finesse. Think lemon curd and mango with a saline zing.
Château Cheval Blanc 2024
Equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, Cheval Blanc 2024 is suave, floral, and composed. Mint, plum, cigar box—it's all there, stitched together with precision. Suckling says 96-97, and with prices down 28%, it might be the classiest steal in town.
