The 2024 harvest in Roussillon

The adaptation of a vineyard! The Domaine de Bila-Haut vineyard, located between the sea and the mountains at an altitude of 400m, began 2024 as it had ended 2022 and 2023, with a remarkably dry winter and a notable absence of its dominant "Tramontane" wind. 

While spring and summer remained as dry as ever (barely 260 mm of precipitation over the season), a few very localized thunderstorms did provide the minimum amount of water needed for vine growth and grape ripening at key times for vine development.

Biodynamic practices in terms of compost, preparations and surface ploughing techniques maintained the moisture and life in the soils that were essential to cope with this vintage's significant water deficit.

Low cluster emergence coupled with coulure on the Grenache resulted in low yields and excellent berry morphology. In fact, the juice/solid ratio was very balanced, thanks to the vine's ability to optimize the rare rainfall of this vintage. Grape ripening was progressive and constant throughout the summer, with no physiological blockage of the vines.

Each grape variety (Grenache noir, blanc, gris...), adapted to this climate, was able to ripen at its own pace. The absence of wind (which could have dried out the soil) and the cooler summer nights in this vintage favored the ripening process, despite the hot, dry summer characteristic of the Pyrénées Orientales. The Banyuls-Collioure area also benefited from the entry of maritime humidity from the southeasterly “marinade” wind. The predominant dryness of this vintage favored perfect sanitary conditions, with very few phytosanitary treatments and limited green harvesting.

This vintage produced wines with aromatic freshness and good tension thanks to the preservation of acidity. The tannic structure of the wines, the result of successful phenolic ripening, is characterized by very silky tannins.

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