Vintage Report

2024 is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing Bordeaux vintages in recent years — not without its challenges, but certainly not without reward.

Weather Conditions

The season got off to a difficult start with a mild, wet winter and a very damp spring — from the very start of the growing season, there was widespread mildew pressure that continued on -  particularly difficult to manage for organically farmed properties. Summer brought warmer, drier weather that helped ripening, but continued vigilance was essential as rains were never far away.  Cool nights helped to preserve aromatic compounds.  Timing of the harvest was critical, with storms in early and late September.

Sorting was paramount in 2024. Yields varied widely: from just 19hl/ha at Malartic Lagravière to 46hl/ha at Couhins-Lurton  in the same appellation. Margaux averaged around 33hl/ha, while in Pomerol ranged between 22hl/ha and 43hl/ha depending on terroir and strategy.

With uneven ripening and the constant threat of rot, many estates took drastic action. Chateau Giscours alone brought in 200 pickers to stay ahead of the mildew. Cheval Blanc discarded over half its crop using densimetric sorting baths to eliminate less ripe berries. Figeac dropped 21%, La Conseillante 20% - these were choices that were essential to quality in 2024.

Following initial fruit selection and sorting, most wines underwent selective chaptalisation to reach balanced wines ranging from 12.5–13% ABV or occasionally 13.5% on the Right Bank. 

Left Bank

The vintage’s more delicate frame allowed Margaux and St Estephe to shine. Margaux’s classic floral profile aligned beautifully with 2024’s perfume and finesse. St Estèphe delivered deeper, more muscular wines with ripeness and balance.  Pauillac, St Julien and Pessac-Leognan were less consistent, requiring careful picking. That said, top names like Lafite, Montrose, Calon Segur, and Leoville Las Cases all impressed, delivering structure and balance with a sense of restraint.

Right Bank

Pomerol and parts of Saint-Emilion offer some of the most compelling wines of the vintage. Pomerol retained its hallmark plushness, with finesse. Eglise Clinet was stunningly good, as was Vieux Chateau Certan. The limestone plateau of Saint Emilion was especially successful :  Canon, Figeac, Cheval Blanc, La Gaffeliere showed brightness, minerality, and length. Clay-heavy soils struggled more with dilution, so appellation and terroir are key to selection.

Style of the Wines

Reds - 2024 is not a blockbuster year, but it is a beautiful one in the right hands, with vivid fruit, elegant tannins, and fresh acidity. Cabernet Sauvignon fared especially well on the Left Bank, ripening late and evenly, while Merlot on the Right Bank brought fruit and texture.

Alcohols are modest, structures are refined, and the best wines will offer a broad drinking window accessible early thanks to their charm but with structure and  modern polish.

Dry whites are very good — bright, balanced, and aromatic, with Sauvignon Blanc vibrancy freshness and Semillon texture.

Sauternes - Further south, conditions were perfect for noble rot in September & October.  There were high residual sugar levels, and plenty of acidity especially from Barsac - meaning a lovely combination of richness and freshness. 

Vintage Style

2024 is a year that demanded real precision and investment from producers, and the results reflect that. The mixed weather was evident -  the best wines come from estates that had the manpower and resources to respond quickly and work selectively. 

These are elegant, perfumed wines with moderate alcohol, freshness, and a return to old-school Bordeaux charm. While yields and quality vary more than in recent years, careful selection shows wines of lovely character, many of which should offer real drinking pleasure and ageability — and potentially strong value ( if pricing reflects the current market climate).

Market Conditions

The past 18 to 24 months have been a challenging period for the fine wine market. Key drivers of price growth — particularly strong demand from China and access to cheap financing — have faded, resulting in softer demand.  This means falling prices for available vintages, hitting hardest in vintages that are not yet ready to drink. 

The 2024 vintage enters the market under tough conditions.

For Bordeaux generally, 2024 sits behind most recent vintages, with the exception of 2021 & 2017.  There will be peaks of very good quality though - mainly down to multiple draconian selection processes.  There will be opportunities, and IF priced attractively and significantly below available vintages, there should be a set of wines that are well worth buying.

If pricing doesn’t reflect this, however, it’s likely these wines will remain in the Châteaux’s cellars for some time.