2024 vintage: A constant battle

“There is no success without hardship.”
Jean Giono (French writer 1895-1970)

Planning of the sales campaign

After many of you have come this week, from April 14 to 18, we will take a moment to catch our breath on Monday, April 21, a public holiday in France (Easter Monday).

The campaign is already shaping up to be very dynamic, with a good start pace launched by Pontet-Canet, which will formalize its marketing conditions on April 23.

We invite you to follow the forecast release dates of each castle via:

Our shared calendar, accessible here:

An extraordinary winter

The first events of the 2024 vintage began in the winter of 2023-2024, which was exceptionally mild in Bordeaux: +1.5 °C compared to the average of the last ten years, and +390 mm of rainfall, 80% more than the average since 2000. A plant cover proved essential to allow work in the soggy vines.

This mild winter weather led to an early bud break in March, raising fears of a spring frost — which unfortunately was confirmed at the end of April, affecting the most sensitive areas. At the same time, excessive humidity has led to intense phytosanitary pressure, particularly mildew, requiring rapid, precise and repeated interventions.

Complicated spring, uncertain flowering

April remained cool, the waterlogged soils delayed and disturbed flowering. This proved to be heterogeneous, marked by coulure and millerandage. In addition to this, destructive storms on 19, 22 and 23 April damaged plots in Fronsac, Saint-Estèphe and in the south of the Médoc. Fortunately, at the beginning of July, vegetative growth began to slow down under the effect of slight water stress, allowing the vine to refocus its energy on the development of the fruit.

Moderate summer, harvest under pressure

The summer, without a heat wave but with cool nights, favoured a beautiful aromatic expression, both for the reds and the whites. In September, despite stormy episodes, sunny days, natural ventilation and the vigilance of the winegrowers made it possible to maintain a good state of health of the grapes. The harvest began at the beginning of September with the Sauvignon Blanc, often harvested just before the rain. They continued until October, depending on the terroirs and strategies of each château.

A Demanding Vintage, with Varied Profiles

The 2024 vintage is distinguished by a long vegetative cycle, which has put the nerves of the winegrowers and now also those of La Place de Bordeaux to the test, in a turbulent market context. It is impossible to talk about a right bank or left bank profile. Even within the same appellation, the differences between the châteaux are notable. Yields vary greatly depending on the management of mildew, the quality of sorting, and the choice of harvest. There are major differences between the terroirs, depending on the capacity that the vine has had for the development of colourful, sweet and aromatic grapes:

• In sandy soils, where the roots are continuously supplied with water, this process has been slower and more difficult,
• And in clay, limestone or gravelly soils, they fare much better.
• Sorting technologies — manual, optical, densimetric — were invaluable. Bordeaux remains at the forefront of precision viticulture, and continues to inspire internationally.

Wine Profiles 2024

• Reds: balanced, with a bright aroma when maturity has been reached. The best batches express freshness, softness and elegance.
• Dry whites : very successful, lively and tense, with a beautiful structure and lingering citrus aromas.
• Sweet wines: in a modern style, with a vibrant freshness. To be enjoyed very chilled, and why not… without moderation!

Gerda Interview: Expert Voices

Thomas Duclos, Oenologist and Partner at Oenotea

Eric Boisenot, Oenologist and Doctor of Science

Julien Viaud, Oenologist/Agricultural Engineer at Laboratoire Rolland

Gerda: What was the biggest challenge for winemakers in 2024?

Thomas: To be brave and patient.

Eric: The incessant fight against mildew. It was difficult because of the recurrence of rainfall, the bearing capacity of the soil, the workforce… We shouldn’t be discouraged.

Julian: In some vintages, you have to know how to manage opulence and power. 2024, on the other hand, is an oceanic and cool vintage. Modern Bordeaux offers a sweet blend of a certain consistency on the palate, greediness and elegance. In 2024, the main challenge has been to find the right balance between looking for a beautiful mouthfeel on the one hand, while avoiding a certain fluidity on the other. The vinifications have been meticulously managed to find this delicate balance. The blends were very long, very precise to find the right alchemy.

G: Could you tell us a few words about the 2024 returns?

Thomas: There were many factors of loss: coulure, millerandage, mildew, and sorting… All this reduced the harvest significantly — but it was probably a blessing in disguise, to go as far as possible in the search for maturity.

Eric: Yields are heterogeneous, ranging from 10 to + 50 hl/ha depending on: Losses due to mildew, more or less important sorting during the harvest due to botrytis.

Julian: Overall, the returns are moderate. The weather conditions in the spring were harsh. Flowering did not take place in a stable climate, which generated a little loss of harvest. The search for a good aromatic and phenolic maturity required waiting and therefore sorting. Quality depends on the harvest of ripe grapes, fortunately we are well equipped with sorting tables! They generate a little additional crop loss but guarantee a certain quality. In addition, the selection during the blending process was very drastic and always with a qualitative objective. All these levers are all reasons why the 2024 production is not overcrowded but of good quality.

G: How would you describe the style of the 2024 vintage?

Thomas: It’s a very Bordeaux style, with all that that implies… Juice, taste, balance… Unfortunately, the full and fleshy wines that qualify the wines as “beautiful wines” are not the majority. But when everything aligns, the vintage is interesting.

Eric: It is a juicy vintage, very balanced and often long in the mouth. Very tasty actually. Low in alcohol and digestible. Sometimes more acidic than average.

Julian: Bordeaux wines are vintage wines. Every year offers a style. There is something for everyone and this is also the strength of Bordeaux wines. 2024 is first and foremost a very good vintage for the whites. It is an extremely aromatic, fresh and well-balanced vintage. In red we find this ultra-seductive aromatic burst accompanying a tender, soft and charming palate.

G: One word to sum up 2024 ?

Thomas: Viticulture is an unfair activity… Work was necessary to make beautiful wines but it could often not be enough.

Eric : A vintage full of subtleties.

Julian: Bordeaux wines are vintage wines. Every year offers a style. There is something for everyone and this is also the strength of Bordeaux wines. 2024 is first and foremost a very good vintage for the whites. It is an extremely aromatic, fresh and well-balanced vintage. In red we find this ultra-seductive aromatic burst accompanying a tender, soft and charming palate.

You will receive all the information from our sales team: notes, technical sheets and marketing elements sent by the wine estates.

The Roland Coiffe & Associés team wishes you a very good En Primeurs 2024 campaign

Gerda BEZIADE has an incredible passion for wine, and has a perfect knowledge of Bordeaux acquired in prestigious wine merchants for 25 years. Gerda joins Roland Coiffe & Associés to bring you more information about the properties we market with “Inside La PLACE“.