It's En Primeur season (pronounced on preem er)

posted: 17-Apr-2009

En Primeur, is definitely a term to casually refer to at the next dinner party particularly if you are a member of the half full glass fraternity in the current  economic climate.

So what is an 'en Primeur'?
It is a French term for wine sold on a futures basis before it is bottled and exported. You have the opportunity to buy the 2008 vintage before it hits the shops, that is, you can buy a ‘future’ in the wine. Two years later, you will have access to your wine once it has been bottled. The advantage of buying En Primeur is that you pay less as you are getting ‘first releases’ price of sought after wines ‘ex cellar’. For example the release price of Château Leoville Barton 2008 is €29.99 (duty, vat & shipping must be added to this which would currently amount to €11) so the total bottle price ends up at just under €41.

Do I have to spend a fortune?
No many of the Cru Bourgeois and Haut-Médocs will be released at prices under €10. The minimum purchase is always a case of 12 bottles.

How do I rate the 2008 Bordeaux Vintage ?
Two weeks ago I was over in Bordeaux tasting the 2008 barrel samples and I have to say I was much more impressed than I had been led to believe. I found this vintage most comparable to the 2001 vintage displaying both elegance and freshness with good fruit purity. This is a vintage to lay down to drink rather than invest in. What makes it more compelling is that the prices are significantly down over the 2007 vintage up to 40% and it is certainly a better vintage. I would happily rate this a 7/10 vintage.

How do I get going with en Primeurs?
Register for our the O'Briens  en Primeur updates by emailing en_primeur@obrienswine.ie   Every Thursday at 2pm O'Briens will email you the offers we believe are really interesting and offer value . This e-mail offering will include all the journalist reviews that we receive and I will add some notes on my favourites. Note many commentators are declaring this a right bank vintage, I have to say I don't agree and found many more compelling wines form the left bank offerings.

 

Three great wines to savour this weekend!

Torres Ibericos Rioja Crianza 2006 (O'Briens €14.99 on promotion @ €12.99 + a free bottle of extra virgin olive oil)

This is Torres first venture into Rioja - it has attractive ripe red fruit aromas and flavours with restrained oak notes. What makes this a particularly is that you get a free bottle of the brilliant il Silencio extra Virgin olive oil with each bottle purchased. This olive oil will make the most perfect starter served with some warm crisp bread - sublime.

Henri Bourgeois Terre de Fumé 2007 (O'Briens €14.99 on promotion at €12.99)

This is simply a brilliant Sauvignon from top Loire producer Henri Bourgeois. This is as close to a top Sancerre as you will ever find. The wine has a wonderful green fruit intensity with a captivating minerality. Benchmark.

Domaine de Nizas Rosé 2008 (O'Briens €11.99)

Rumour has it that the sun is going to shine this weekend and with this in mind this rosé is a must. Dry in style with a pure red fruit character this is a real all rounder and great with white meats, fish or salad or simply on its own. Although it has just arrived into the country it has already picked up a wine of the week in the Irish Independent. (Less than 4,000 cases were made).
 
Add a commentBookmarkPrint BlogEmail Blog
Report Violation
Login to Add Comment

Get RSS!
Subscribe to this Blog

Blogger Bio
davidwhelehanDavid Whelehan is one of Ireland’s top wine experts.

A regular on TV, his friendly accessible wine advice is a real hit with viewers.

He is the marketing director and head wine buyer for O'Briens, so he knows his stuff. Over the years, he has sampled thousands of different wines  and he is a member of the Champagne Academy - he won the Champagne Academy Trophy the year he participated in their training programme in France.

He has been passionate about wine ever since he was a student -  he founded the Wine Club in Trinity  and during summer holidays he worked in wineries in the Napa Valley, California, Chablis and Champagne.
Blog Calendar
«November 2009»
SMTWTFS
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293012345

© Ireland.com 2009

At Ireland.com, we encourage a fair exchange of views, opinions and responsible comments. We will not post any comments that are antisocial or that are personal attacks. Comments of this nature will be removed: we'll be monitoring the site but if you do see something objectionable then you can report it to us. We will at our discretion block users who violate the Ireland.com terms of use.