En primeur, also known as wine futures, is a purchasing system primarily associated with Bordeaux's finest châteaux where consumers buy wines while they're still aging in barrel, typically 18-24 months before the wine is bottled and released to market. This centuries-old practice allows wine lovers to secure allocations of highly sought-after wines at lower prices than they'll command upon release, while providing châteaux with immediate cash flow to fund operations and subsequent vintages. The process involves tastings of barrel samples by wine critics and merchants during the spring following harvest, with scores and reviews driving demand and pricing for wines that won't be delivered for another two years. While en primeur offers the opportunity to purchase legendary wines like Château Pétrus or Le Pin at substantial discounts compared to mature bottle prices, it also carries risks including vintage variation, storage concerns, and the possibility that wines may not appreciate as expected, making it both an investment strategy and an act of faith in a producer's reputation and a vintage's potential.