The vintage 2024 began with mild but wet weather. Flowering started well, but heavy rain in May disrupted the process and led to issues such as coulure and mildew. The latter disease required several treatments, and it became clear that yields would be significantly reduced due to both coulure and mildew.
Fortunately, the vines remained unharmed throughout June, July, and August, with the latter two months being particularly warm and dry. Winegrowers often say, “August makes the must.” And it was certainly the case in 2024. Rain returned partly at the beginning of September but did not damage the vines further, as cool nights, windy conditions, and sunny intervals helped prevent additional diseases. It became evident that winegrowers needed to wait for optimal ripeness inside the grapes and skins. It took time, but the result was worth waiting for, as the splendid ripeness of the fruit and tannin is the hallmark of the vintage.
As a result, 2024 can be characterized as a late-ripening vintage. During the harvest, many estates implemented sorting processes in the vineyard, including manual, optical, and densimetric, eliminating grapes with low sugar content. Some did perform additional manual sorting in the cellar. For winemakers, patience, expertise, and not overdoing the vinification process were crucial. Gentle extraction at low temperatures was key, and those who managed this task wisely reached excellent results. However, several properties needed to use the upconcentration techniques and chaptalization.
So, how is the 2024 red vintage? It is better than I expected. Regarding weather challenges, it is similar to 2013, but 2024 was saved by modern technology, the dry and sunny month of August, and a long ripening process. Adjectives such as fresh, elegant, delicate, lively, gentle, and silky characterize most wines. Many wines, especially from properties that couldn't afford treatment costs against mildew, etc., deviate from this description by being over-extracted, green, unripe, and showing dry flavors.
Of course, the weather conditions didn’t allow winemakers to make another excellent vintage. So the intensity, fatness, big complexity, opulence, and length typical of excellent vintages like 2018, 2020, and 2022 are absent in 2024. However, it is essential to note that the profoundness, charm, delicacy, and gentle touch are distinctly evident in 2024. The subtle acidity complements the wines beautifully, and alcohol levels are approximately 1-1.5% lower than in 2022. These balanced and flavorful wines will be ideal for early enjoyment and pairing with restaurant meals. Additionally, their splendid balance suggests they have fine aging potential.
The 2024 vintage excels over 2021 because of better fruit and tannin ripeness. It also possesses more complexity and a better midpalate than 2021. However, it will be interesting to see how 2024 will taste after bottling and if it maintains all the good things it showed from the barrel.
This is an excellent vintage for dry white wines that may surpass 2021, 2022, and 2023. Sunny spells in early September contributed to perfect grape ripening, allowing them to obtain remarkable acidity and intensity.
White sweet wines experienced a fairly splendid vintage for several properties. Spells of rain and sunshine allowed botrytis to spread. They did best in places where botrytized grapes with sufficient sugar content were brought in.
To attract consumers of all ages, the primeurs' prices for 2024 should go down 30% compared with 2022 and at least 15% compared with 2023. We will see if it happens; otherwise, the primeur campaign won't be a success.