C+E Bordeaux Cliff Notes

Craft + Estate Bordeaux Portfolio Open Market vs . Exclusives

The Bordeaux wine-buying market is set-up differently frommost other international regions thanks to a virtual trading system known as “La Place de Bordeaux.” La Place brings together the individual châteaux or producers with the négociant system. Négociants are merchant houses, acting as the commercial arm for the châteaux, selling Bordeaux wines to importers, distributors, and merchants throughout the world. They sell both wines produced and branded by estates, as well as their own brands, often bulk wine blended and bottled under a proprietary name. Many of the top Bordeaux estates sell their wines as futures (“en primeur”) through the négociant systemwhen the wine is still in cask, before bottling. Since multiple négociant firms can purchase wine produced by the same estate, each estate can have multiple sellers of their wines to US importers, each with different prices and volumes. This concept is referred to as “OpenMarket Bordeaux.” Craft + Estate has developed strong relationships with multiple négociants, which allows us to offer our customers the most renowned and sought-after estates in Bordeaux on a regular basis. The Craft + Estate Exclusives portfolio is made up of a collection of properties from diverse appellations across the region. They are either producers with whomwe have a direct relationship or a château that chooses to work exclusively with one négociant and not sell their wine to “La Place.” This négociant in turns sells the brand exclusively to Craft + Estate.

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