A classic year – but only for those who worked hard for it.

Top Selection’s founder, Ákos Forczek, recently returned from Bordeaux with his thoughts on the 2024 en primeur campaign, and while he arrived with low expectations, he was pleasantly surprised by what he tasted.

In his full Bordeaux 2024 Vintage Report, Ákos describes 2024 as a year reminiscent of the more elegant and age-worthy vintages of the 1980s and 1990s. Lower alcohols (typically 12.5–13.5%), juicier fruit, and well-integrated tannins all contribute to wines that, in his view, are a welcome departure from the high-octane blockbusters of recent years.

But this was not an easy year. Extreme mildew pressure, low sunshine hours, and uneven yields meant that only the most meticulous producers were able to succeed. The best estates excelled through obsessive sorting, gentle extraction, and precision in the vineyard. Ákos was clear: this was a vintage won through hard work, not luck.

The report also outlines the wines that impressed him most, both in terms of quality and relative value, highlighting names such as Palmer, Canon, Tertre Roteboeuf, and Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, alongside some sharp commentary on wines that didn’t quite live up to their reputations.