02/10/2026
How is the 2023 vintage compared to the 2022 in Bordeaux?
2023 was clearly weaker overall than 2022 in Bordeaux, but it is also much more interesting on price. The important distinction is that 2023 is not a poor vintage; it is a more uneven, fresher, more classical vintage with some excellent w**es, whereas 2022 produced more consistently powerful, concentrated reds, perfect for long term storage.
The good news are more freshness and lower alcohol levels in the 2023 vintage.
The really interesting part though is the price.
This is where 2023 becomes considerably more attractive.
The average 2023 release price was roughly 19–22% below 2022, depending on the dataset and point in the campaign.
And some famous estates cut much more:
* Lafite 2023: −31.7%
* Mouton: −37.2%
* Haut-Brion: −39.5%
* Margaux: −30.2%
* Calon-Ségur: −23.5%
* Léoville Poyferré: −32.7%
So the unusual situation was:
2022 = better vintage, but expensive.
2023 = slightly weaker vintage, but significantly lower release prices.
And there is another important point: some 2023s are now looking better than they did en primeur. Decanter’s 2026 in-bottle tastings of 600+ w**es found that 110 gained a point and 66 gained two points from their en-primeur scores, with the w**es generally showing greater harmony, polish and approachability.
Margaux itself was rated 98 by Decanter, the same score as its 2022, but released 30% cheaper. Palmer 2023 was also described as more balanced and refined than its 2022.
So, if you’re buying for drinking rather than speculation or long term storage, 2023 can make a lot of sense — particularly where a château has reduced its price substantially.
In short;
2022 = the safer vintage-quality choice.
2023 = potentially the more interesting vintage-price proposition.
