A Vigneron’s Vintage
2024 is a vintage defined by the vigneron first and foremost. A cool, wet spring brought extreme mildew pressure - early, intense, and unrelenting - followed by a turbulent flowering that left ripeness patchy, even within individual bunches. Organic and biodynamic growers were particularly tested; some compromised on principle to salvage fruit, while others triumphed through proactive, precise vineyard work.
This was not a vintage for deckchair viticulture. Far from it; vigilance and adaptability were everything. Even within individual appellations, the range of quality was wide - more often a reflection of timing, team, and technique than simply terroir.
A Winemaker’s Vintage
If the vineyard required constant attention, the cellar demanded nothing less than mastery. This was a year for winemakers to show their mettle. Uneven ripening made sorting crucial: those with the tools and know-how to fine-tune their selections - whether by densimetric baths or judicious triage - started ahead.
Extraction had to be careful and considered. Overworking the wines risked masking the vintage’s charm; gentle handling brought out purity, elegance, and lift. The best wines are luminous: fragrant, ripe, and textured, with fine-grained tannins, moderate alcohols, and bright, balancing acidity. They are Bordeaux with both energy and poise - wines that will drink early but evolve gracefully.
No Uniformity, but Glints of Beauty
This is not a vintage of blanket success. There are highs and lows - sometimes within the same village. But for those châteaux that met the season with reactivity, the results are often thrilling.
Left and Right Bank generalisations prove elusive, but patterns do emerge. Saint-Émilion’s limestone plateau was a clear standout, offering tension and mineral sapidity. Margaux impressed with aromatic finesse, Saint-Julien with steadiness, and Saint-Estèphe with assured power and polish. Pomerol - despite very low yields in many instances - produced some lustrous stars from deep clays and sandy gravels. Pauillac is less consistent but home to several striking successes, and Pessac-Léognan produced some distinctive vintage highlights in both colours. Speaking of which...
Dry Whites and Sweet Surprises
The dry whites may be 2024’s hidden gems. Vivid and mineral, they are especially successful in early-ripening sites and those with limestone subsoils. And the sweet wines? While some producers in Sauternes and Barsac struggled with the erratic onset of Botrytis, the best prepared were rewarded with wines that are poised and golden - marked by vibrant acidity, detailed fruit, and complexity derived from clear 'Noble Rot' aromas.
A Vintage of Character, Not Consensus
Is 2024 a 'classic' Bordeaux vintage? Not in the conventional sense. There is no single defining style or dominant appellation. It’s a vintage that rewards attentiveness - from producer and consumer alike. It is a year that is likely to divide in critical consensus, so we advise to trust your own palate or follow voices whose preferences echo your own. While there is glory in 2024, it is not everywhere, and we will be diligent in selecting the wines that we feel show the best of the vintage at the fairest prices. Choose wisely, and you’ll be rewarded.
