In France, the word Primeur has 2 distinctive and different meanings, it either refers to very young wines or to the "Futures", a commercial event that fixes the price of wine for future sales. 

Beaujolais Nouveau

Beaujolais nouveau is the most famous "Vin de Primeur" sold in the world. This quickly gamay-based fermented wine is bottled just a few weeks after harvest and shipped all over the world, so that every country can drink the new vintage, on the third Thursday of November, every year.

The Bordeaux Primeurs

The Bordeaux Primeurs or Futures is a yearly event that takes place in March every year. During the 3 or 4 days of the "Primeurs", the most prestigious Bordeaux producers, members of the Grands Crus Union present their new wines made with grapes harvested the year before. In march 2009, the vintage presented was 2008.

The maturation of wines usually takes 18 to 30 months in Bordeaux. At this stage, the wines are far from being completed. The reason why this event takes place this early is to allow the wine merchants from Bordeaux and from all over the world to judge the quality of the wines. During this few days, the entire production of the châteaux taking part in the event is negotiated, priced and sold. The actual bottles of wine will only hit the market 2 or 3 years after the primeurs, and depending on the market trends will sell for more than the price negociated during the primeurs (it is a win for the wine merchants) or for less money (it is a loss).