The Vin-X En Primeur team are nearing the end of their 2024 tastings and reveal their key findings .
Important factors for En Primeur 2024
- Low production levels
- Elegant wines and drinking younger
- Potentially the best priced vintage release in a decade
Key Pessac-Leognan tastings
On our third day tasting Bordeaux’s 2024 primeurs we headed to the appellation of Pessac-Leognan and started with First Growth, Chateau Haut-Brion. There we sampled both the Grand Vin and second wines of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion and Chateau Haut Brion.
Our masterclass included explanations on the importance of sorting grape bunches, going through an extensive five-stage process to reach what would finally be used in the great wines produced by these leading Pessac Leognan estates both owned by Domaine Clarence Dillon.
Five stages of sorting:
- Sorting in the vineyard
- Table sorting in the winery
- Densimetric
- Optical with laser
- and lastly manual sorting system by hand
After this intensive, quality-control process, the Chateau ended up with an average 27 hl per hectare, down from the actual 40hl harvested. The result was all the wines displayed elegance, and the potential to be drinking well in the next five to ten years.
We then took a short trip to Les Carmes Haut-Brion, famous for its wines but also its exceptional submarine Stark design winery.
Once again, we were treated to a detailed explanation of the wine making processes for this vintage. The team explained that they were really pleased with the results Les Carmes Haut-Brion achieved for a difficult vintage. Similar to Haut Brion, Les Carmes were diligent in choosing their best grapes and ended up with an average 24hl per ha instead of the 40hl harvested.
Conclusion
The tastings of Pessac-Leognan captured the essence of 2024, the best estates have worked harder than ever before to provide us with great quality wines. The sacrifices made during grape selection, have meant that we will see limited supply of the 2024 vintage, and there are some real gems that will be fought over for allocations.
This combined with the understanding from the Bordelais that consumers are seeking competitive pricing (rumours of 10-20% reduction on price, compared to the already discounted 2023) means that we could be looking at the best priced vintage in over a decade.
The wines are elegant, and do not have the same power as the previous few vintages. Alcohol levels seem to simmer around 13% on average, more in line with a classic claret style than the bigger vintages we’ve seen recently. We expect the 2024 to be consumed younger, meaning these will not require as much cellaring before being able to enjoy these wines.
It was highlighted by many producers that they are looking to produce a wine style for the next generation. There is a belief that the younger wine consumer does not want to cellar wines as long as purists once did. The wine world is changing, and the Bordelais are making in-roads to change with it.
For more information on investing in Bordeaux 2024 En Primeur contact the Vin-X team on 0203 384 2262.