Vintage 2024 began with mild but wet weather. Flowering started well, but heavy rain in May disrupted the process and led to issues such as coulure and mildew. The latter disease required several treatments, and it became clear that yields would be significantly reduced due to both coulure and mildew.
Fortunately, the vines remained unharmed throughout June, July, and August, with the latter two months being particularly warm and dry. Winegrowers often say, “August makes the must.” And it was certainly the case in 2024. Rain returned partly at the beginning of September but did not damage the vines further, as cool nights, windy conditions, and sunny intervals helped prevent additional diseases. It became evident that winegrowers needed to wait for optimal ripeness inside the grapes and skins. It took time, but the result was worth waiting for, as the achieved splendid ripeness of the fruit and tannin is the hallmark of the vintage.
As a result, 2024 is a late-ripening vintage. During the harvest, many estates implemented sorting processes in the vineyard, including manual, optical, and densimetric, eliminating grapes with low sugar content. Some did perform additional manual sorting in the cellar. For winemakers, patience, expertise, and not overdoing the vinification process were crucial. Gentle extraction at low temperatures was key, and those who managed this task wisely reached excellent results. However, several properties needed to be used, such as upconcentration techniques and chaptalization, to increase the alcohol content.
So, how is the 2024 red vintage? It is better than I expected. Regarding weather challenges, it is similar to 2013, but 2024 was saved by modern technology, the dry and sunny month of August, and a long ripening process. Adjectives such as fresh, elegant, delicate, lively, gentle, and silky characterize most wines. Many wines, especially from properties that couldn't afford treatment costs against mildew, etc., deviate from this description by being over-extracted, green, unripe, and showing dry flavors. In my view, the Right Bank slightly outperforms the Left Bank in terms of wine quality.
Of course, the weather conditions didn’t allow winemakers to make another excellent vintage. So the intensity, fatness, big complexity, opulence, and length typical of excellent vintages like 2018, 2020, and 2022 are absent in 2024. However, it is essential to note that the profoundness, charm, delicacy, and gentle touch are distinctly evident in 2024. The subtle acidity complements the wines beautifully, and alcohol levels are approximately 1-1.5% lower than in 2022. These balanced and flavorful wines will be ideal for early enjoyment and pairing with restaurant meals. Additionally, their splendid balance suggests they have fine aging potential.
The 2024 vintage excels over 2021 because of better fruit and tannin ripeness. It also possesses more complexity and a better midpalate than 2021. However, it will be interesting to see how 2024 will taste after bottling and if it maintains all the good things it showed from the barrel.
This is an excellent vintage for dry white wines that may surpass 2021, 2022, and 2023. Sunny spells in early September contributed to perfect grape ripening, allowing them to obtain remarkable acidity and intensity.
White sweet wines experienced a fairly splendid vintage for several properties. Spells of rain and sunshine allowed botrytis to spread. They did best where botrytized grapes with sufficient sugar content were brought in.
To attract consumers of all ages, the primeurs' prices for 2024 should go down 30% compared with 2022 and at least 15% compared with 2023. We will see if it happens; if not, the primeur campaign won't be a success.
RATINGS:
100-point scale. However, I won't give any ratings of 100p, 99p, or 98p for the 2024 vintage. 97p is the maximum rating I will award.
WINES:
Unfortunately, because of limited tasting days in Médoc and logistical challenges, I was unable to visit Calon Ségur, Cos d'Estournel, and Montrose in Saint-Estèphe. However, I will be returning to Bordeaux in late October and will definitely visit all three properties then! Figeac in Saint-Emilion is also on the visit list, as I regrettably didn't have time to visit it in April 2025.
A sneak peek of the selected 25 wines follows below:
Ausone: 65% Cabernet Franc + 35% Merlot. It reminded me of the delicate and feminine 2023 version I experienced in April 2024 when I tasted it. The same elegance and finesse, a very seductive nose of violets and morello cherries, vibrancy, complexity, bright acidity, and velvety tannins. Although the 2024 wine here can't match the intensity of the 2023, it is superbly crafted, despite all the challenges the weather offered. 95p.
Beausejour: 72% Merlot + 28% Cabernet Franc, 13% alcohol, and 28 hl/ha produced. This property has overcome all the weather challenges with bravado. It possesses a great aromatic profile with notes of red fruit and flowers, minerality, a sophisticated touch, and a superb midpalate. The texture is velvety, the tannins are crystalline, and the discreet acidity keeps everything going smoothly. Bravo! 95+p.
Beausejour Becot: 78% Merlot + 22% Cabernet Franc, 13% alcohol and 20hl/ha produced. This wine offers crushed cherries and raspberries, with elegance, finesse, and a gentle structure. It has a sophisticated touch and a delicate palate. The lingering finish rounds out this pretty and seductive wine. 93-94p.
Belair Monange: 98% Merlot + 2% Cabernet Franc. Fragrant violets, morello cherries, vibrant and sappy on the palate, fine complexity and length, finesse, velvety tannin, and lingering finish. It’s a splendid effort for the vintage. 94+p.
Bourgneuf: Aromatic, sappy, gentle, elegant with finesse and velvety tannin. Discreet acidity works well with tasty fruit. Lasting aftertaste. This is a fine effort from the property, where the winemaker hasn’t put a foot wrong since she started making wine in 2008! 93+p.
Cheval Blanc: 48% Cabernet Franc, 46% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. Low yield of 28 hl/ha due to mildew. This is a lighter version of the wine from this property. It is delicate and elegant, has fragrant violets and redcurrants/raspberries, and is impeccably structured on the palate with splendid midpalate and silky texture. Gorgeous effort. 95-96p.
La Conseillante: 80% Merlot + 20% Cabernet Franc, 13.5% alcohol, and 22 hl/ha produced. In 2024, this property offers freshness, ripe raspberries, fragrant violets, irresistible charm, pure elegance, finesse, great balance, and silky texture. Finely grained tannin and discreet acidity add the final touch, and this wine is just splendid. 95p.
Domaine de Chevalier: Red berries, juicy, fresh, delicate tannins and bright acidity, elegant with finesse. Silky texture. This is a well-made wine despite all the weather challenges, and an attractive one. To enjoy before 2022 and 2023. 93-94p.
Domaine de Chevalier white: It offers a fresh and dignified nose of citrus, apple, and lemongrass. Great presence of acidity. Vibrant, sophisticated, and refined on the palate with great complexity, depth, and length. It is a classic and distinguished effort for the property. Amazing stuff! 96-97p.
L’Eglise Clinet: 90% Merlot + 10% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% alcohol. Plenty of dark cherries and blackberries on the nose, garnished with black winter truffles. Quite powerful on the palate, yet remains delicate, showing finesse and a sophisticated touch. Excellent midpalate, really focused and long finish. This is a truly remarkable effort from winemaker Noëmie Durantou and cellarmaster Olivier Gautrat, among the very top wines of the vintage. 96p.
Haut Bailly: 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% alcohol. This is a more accessible and elegant offering from the property than usual, but the hallmark minerality is still there. It has freshness, high-quality fruit, bright acidity, and is profound and delicate, with crunchy berries and a silky texture. Fine effort for the vintage. 94p.
Haut Brion: 47.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37.5% Merlot Noir and 15.3% Cabernet Franc. 13.2% alcohol. You taste the splendid ripeness of the fruit here, fine complexity, and structure. There are plenty of crushed blackcurrants well-supported by a bright acidity. The tannins are fat, and the aftertaste is firm. This wine needs time to settle down. 95p.
Lafaurie Peyraguey: Intense aromas of white peaches, sweet oranges, guava, and honey, potent, bright acidity, well-structured, concentrated, and powerful on the palate yet with flair and grace. Layers, great complexity, and sophisticated touch. Sublimely long finish. It’s an exceptional effort. 96-97p.
Lafite Rothschild: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Aromatic, crunchy blackcurrants, delicate and profound, finesse and sophisticated touch. It’s a lighter version of this first growth. Despite not being a world-beater, and it wasn’t possible to be one in 2024, it’s an impeccably made wine, given the circumstances. 94-95p.
Latour: 94.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5.2% Merlot and 0.2% Petit Verdot. 12.85% alcohol. Optical sorting was used for the first time (Cabernet Sauvignon). It’s well-crafted wine, offering intense flavors of black and red currants. It has a robust structure, the midpalate is refined, and there is fine complexity and length. Overall, it is a muscular wine that also displays delicate finesse. This is a splendid effort for the vintage. 95+p.
Chateau Margaux: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. 12.8% alcohol. This wine is a strong contender for a wine of the vintage with its impeccable delicacy and finesse. It is very fragrant on the nose with notes of violets and blackcurrants. It is precise, focused, vibrant, with great complexity and elegance, sophisticated, and has a long and persistent finish. 96+p.
La Mission Haut Brion: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46.5% Merlot and 2.5% Cabernet Franc. 13.2% alcohol. It has an intense nose of redcurrants and wild raspberries, is vivid, has splendid complexity, and displays fine midpalate. It’s a very accessible wine with great elegance and finesse. Lingering aftertaste. Superb effort for the vintage. 95+p.
Palmer: 59% Cabernet Sauvignon + 41% Merlot. It’s rather strongly built and concentrated for the vintage. It's aromatic with intense notes of red fruit, juicy, chewy, and has a splendid midpalate, backbone, and length. Bright acidity and meaty finish. Terrific stuff. 95+p.
Petrus: 100% Merlot. Yield 28 hl/ha. Olivier Berrouet mentioned that this vintage was challenging to produce, but he is very pleased with the outcome. The wine displays freshness, an intense aroma of cherries, delicate fruit notes, and silky tannins on the palate. It’s pure, has a sophisticated touch, and a long finish. This wine is still splendid despite the oak being slightly dominant on the palate. 95+p.
Pichon Baron: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon + 13% Merlot. 12.7% alcohol. After rigorous selection, the yield was 20hl/ha. This is not a powerhouse wine but a delicate one with silky texture and grainy tannins. It has finesse and elegance, high-quality fruit, well-integrated acidity, and a lingering finish. A seductive effort! 94p.
Pichon Comtesse: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, 12.9% alcohol, yield 20hl/ha. This is a big wine with freshness, plenty of red fruit, great complexity, elegance, polished tannin, and splendid midpalate. It has a long and delicate finish. Excellent stuff. 96p.
Le Pin: 100% Merlot. 13% alcohol. Aromatic, delicate, fresh, and subtle, it is less intense than usual. However, its kinky character is well-preserved, and the wine offers sophisticated touch, finesse, and grace. Fine effort for this property. 94+p.
Seraphine: 100% Merlot. Martin Krajewski, the owner, got the max. out of his vines in the 2024 vintage. He and his daughter Charlotte produced a terrific wine. It’s filled with aromatic cherries spiced up with grated black truffles. The wine is delicate, gentle, and elegant on the palate, displaying finesse, discreet acidity, and silky tannins. The aftertaste is lingering. Seductive stuff! 94p.
Trotanoy: 99.5% Merlot + 0.5% Cabernet Franc. An intense nose with notes of violets, chocolate, and truffles. Great quality fruit and tannin, pure and focused, splendid midpalate, discreet acidity, and lasting aftertaste. More delicate than powerful, this wine will age beautifully for many years. 95+p.
Vieux Chateau Certan: 71% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.5% alcohol. Floral with violets and redcurrants, delicate and fresh, precise, velvety texture, finesse and elegance, superb mid-palate, long and caressing finish. Splendid effort. 95p.