The 2025 Bordeaux En Primeur campaign has generated more questions than any vintage in recent memory—about quality, pricing, tariffs, and whether to buy now or wait. Here are the answers to the questions we're hearing most from collectors, with links to the full analysis where relevant.
I don't think Bordeaux 2025 compares to anything else, from the growing season to the En Primeur campaign. Harvests were as early as they've been since 1989 and yields were as low as they were in 1961. The solar vintage seemed to hint at 2022, but the result is something far more restrained. It's with these thoughts that I'd advise throwing all other vintage comparisons out the window and consider 2025 like this: there are a lot of remarkable wines that are very refreshing in style, complex in structure, and at prices that range from sharp to can't miss.
When speaking of Bordeaux, Graves and Pessac-Léognan are often left out of the conversation when discussing the Left Bank/Right Bank divide. This is a glaring omission. Some of the region's best wines and values can be found here—and in 2025, the appellation delivered at every level, from the grand crus to the everyday drinking wines, and from the reds to what may be the finest dry whites of the entire campaign.
2025 Bordeaux is one of the strongest vintages in recent memory, released at prices that may not last. The campaign is winding down, larger formats are going first, and the best allocations are already moving. Here is how to make sure you don't miss it.
Where the Left Bank impressed with structure and precision, the Right Bank was about texture. We spent the first half of our trip across the Médoc and Pessac-Léognan, and the wines were stunning. But the moment we crossed to the Right Bank, the whole character of the vintage shifted under our feet. Where the usual suspects of the Haut-Médoc and the Graves showed depth and promise, the Merlot- and Cabernet Franc-dominated wines of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol gave us something more generous—silky, expressive wines layered with minerality.
The 2025 Left Bank delivered across all four major appellations—but not uniformly, and not in the way recent vintages have prepared us for. Pauillac produced wines of extraordinary density off half the usual crop. Saint-Julien was the steadiest appellation of the entire campaign, top to bottom. Margaux, rescued by sixty millimeters of rain at exactly the right moment, was the appellation of the vintage. And Saint-Estèphe's clay gave the commune a tension the south had to chase. Here is what we found.
If you asked me to describe my perfect Bordeaux vintage, I'd say good concentration, purity, freshness, with moderate levels of alcohol. Balance and full ripeness, but with a sense of weightlessness and texture. That is very nearly exactly what 2025 delivered.
This is a fascinating time for Bordeaux. The wines are as good as they have ever been, and pricing for many releases has fallen to levels that remind us of campaigns from a decade ago. Few regions in the world can offer this combination of pedigree, quality, ageability, and value.
When you talk about Angelo Gaja, you aren't just talking about wine. You are talking about a revolution. I mean, we take it for granted now that Italian wine stands toe-to-toe with the best of Bordeaux and Burgundy, but back in the 1960s and 70s? That was absolutely not the case. Piedmont was rustic. It was traditional. It was a place of giant, old casks and farming methods that hadn't changed in a century.
Read MoreFew wines in all my buying categories bring me as much joy as the humble Côtes du Rhône. From reds to whites, these wines offer some of the best daily drinking at prices that still defy the market. Each of the producers featured here are small, family-run estates, and what they put in the glass for the cost simply transcends everything else in the category. Many are certified sustainable and/or organic, emphasizing care in both vineyard and cellar.
Read MoreFebruary is all about Champagne at its most thrilling. From the laser-focused precision of Damien Hugot to the beautifully mature old-vine depth of Fallet-Dart, this month’s selections celebrate grower brilliance and grand marque mastery alike. We spotlight collectible bottlings of Cristal, revel in Pinot Noir–driven power, and savor the final allocations of Krug Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition. Plus, we honor the enduring elegance and innovation of Laurent-Perrier. Whether you’re cellaring icons or discovering new grower stars, there’s never been a better time to explore Champagne’s latest treasures.
Read MoreWhile some may disagree with me, I think that the Grande Cuvée isn’t just the equal of the other offerings at Krug; I think it is their best wine. The thing that I like the best about it is the combination of youthful exuberance and profound, aged depth that it shows at the same time. This is something that just gets better with age. Every time that I have done an event with Krug, it has been the oldest Grande Cuvée that has been my favorite wine, and I have been lucky enough to do a lot as a Krug Ambassade.
Read MoreAn entire third of the Champagne region is planted to Pinot Noir, yet 100% Pinot Noir Blanc de Noirs is a relative rarity—especially compared to Blanc de Bancs, even though Chardonnay represents less than a quarter of plantations in the region. Here are some of our favorites:
Read MoreChampagne Louis Roederer’s Cristal is an icon of the wine world for good reason. This is an estate within and estate—the chalkiest parcels, the oldest vines of this house’s significant holdings. Farmed biodynamically, often by horse, nothing is left to chance and no expense is spared for quality. We are very lucky to have a diverse selection of vintages to offer right now.
Read MoreThe Fallet family of Champagne Fallet-Dart has written records of being vine growers in Drachy going all the way back to 1610. The family has almost certainly been there even longer than that. Their 47 acres of vineyard are closer to Paris than to Épernay, located in the Aisne department on the banks of the Marne river. The family’s extraordinarily long time in this business has given them patience like few other producers—as a matter of fact they supply us with our oldest current-release Champagne at 20 years old!
Read MoreDamien Hugot and his wife Miwa are making some of the star wines of our K&L direct import portfolio. They do this the old-fashioned way, with hours of work in their 20 acres of vineyard, tending every plot like a garden. They are blessed with an incredible estate, almost all Grand Cru Chouilly and Cramant Chardonnay with a little bit of old-vine Meunier from the border between Monthelon and Chavot in the cool sud-Épernay sub region.
Read MoreWelcome to our latest newsletter from K&L Wine Merchants’ flagship store in San Francisco. Nestled in the vibrant Yerba Buena district, our store is surrounded by galleries, museums, and theaters—so there’s always something inspiring happening nearby. At K&L, we love making wine approachable, thoughtful, and personal, helping you discover bottles you’ll enjoy and the stories behind them.
Read MoreHere’s what our San Francisco customers are loving right now.
Read MoreOur San Francisco team is passionate about helping you discover wines and spirits you’ll love, and they’ve each shared their current favorite picks to give you a taste of their personal style. Stop by, say hello, and let our team help you uncover something new to sip, savor, and enjoy.
Read MoreWelcome to our latest newsletter from K&L Wine Merchants’ flagship store in San Francisco. Nestled in the vibrant Yerba Buena district, our store is surrounded by galleries, museums, and theaters—so there’s always something inspiring happening nearby. At K&L, we love making wine approachable, thoughtful, and personal, helping you discover bottles you’ll enjoy and the stories behind them.
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