2024 Harvest

A warm, dry winter advanced bud break to mid-March. April was favourable, while substantial but spaced rainfall in May and June enabled timely disease treatments and regular flowering in early June. July was warm without being oppressive; August heat dried the ground before light mid-month rain, followed by renewed heat into September.

The grapes appeared externally mature in early September, but sugar accumulation had stalled. Picking was therefore postponed until approximately 14–15 October, when adequate sugar maturity had developed alongside phenolic maturity. Recent rain nevertheless encouraged mould, requiring meticulous selection in both vineyard and cellar.

Fermentations were rapid and regular, consuming sugars within a week. Initial values ranged from 13 to 14.5 degrees, with normal acidity and pH. Tannin extraction was satisfactory and lacked green character apart from a slight vegetal note in one tank. The resulting wine was expected to be lighter in structure but fresh and elegant, resembling cooler years such as 2013 and 2018.