The 2024 vintage in Provence

Heat! Water! In Provence...
2024 is a vintage with all the right qualities for rosés, which are fresh and have very moderate degrees. The whites are full-bodied and aromatic, with good acidity, while the reds are very promising, with delicate tannins that will reveal their complexity with age. 

After the 2022 and 2023 vintages, which left us very concerned about the availability of water resources. For the 2024 vintage, winter rainfall is much higher, and we're starting the season with ideal water reserves.

In February and March, temperatures were higher (+1.5°C above normal). This situation led to very early budburst, with buds opening 10 to 15 days early in April. However, on April 19, 22 and 24, frosts of up to -6°C hit the Sainte-Victoire region. This proved fatal for some plots, whose leaves and inflorescences had already emerged. The cold also put a stop to vine growth.

The mild spring temperatures were accompanied by frequent but not excessive rainfall. The vines developed beautiful foliage and flowered in June under fine weather conditions. Frozen vines sprouted new buds and remained later than their neighbors. Downy mildew pressure remained relatively low in Provence this season. And the grape bunch emergence is finally promising.

The summer is hot and dry, but the vines will be relatively unaffected by the drought, especially as a thunderstorm on August 15 will help withstand the summer heat and activate photosynthesis in the vines to promote grape ripening. Coupled with lower temperatures, the grapes ripen slowly. For the first time in several years, we start harvesting at the beginning of September. The whites are harvested first, to preserve their sugar-acidity balance. This is followed by the Syrah and Grenache plots for the rosé. Much cooler nights than usual ensure optimal grape Quality. The berries are very juicy in the press. At the end of September, we finish with the reds, with Esquirol harvested by hand.

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