2024 Bordeaux

What was the 2024 Vintage like?

The 2024 growing season in Bordeaux presented significant challenges, demanding adaptability and resilience from producers. A notably wet winter and spring led to saturated soils, setting the stage for a complex vintage. These conditions fostered a high risk of mildew, particularly affecting Merlot vines, though the impact varied across the region depending on vineyard management practices.

Summer brought a reprieve with dry and warm conditions in July and August, allowing for a slow and steady ripening of grapes. This period was crucial for the development of Cabernet varieties, which benefited from the extended hang time. As harvest approached, forecasts of heavy rain prompted some producers to pick early, while others took the risk of waiting.

Fortunately, the anticipated rains were less severe than expected, rewarding those who delayed with grapes of notable quality.

Throughout the region, discussions centered on extraction techniques and tannin management. Winemakers employed innovative, lighter methods to handle the abundance of tannins and color in the grapes, a response to the evolving climate and its impact on grape composition.

The dry white wines of 2024 are expected to be aromatic and fresh, a result of the balance between heat and limited sunshine, which preserved acidity. Sauvignon Blanc, in particular, thrived under these conditions, contributing to wines with vibrant profiles.

In Sauternes, late-season rains followed by clear skies facilitated the development of noble rot. This sequence allowed for the production of sweet wines with high levels of botrytis, leading to complex and balanced profiles.