Vintage report: harvest 2024

Key stages in the vines’ growth, such as flowering and fruit set, went smoothly under good weather conditions. The rainfall between late winter and late spring required close attention from our agronomists and resulted in a lot of extra work in the vineyards. However, it also ensured the soils were well-hydrated, helping the vines withstand the summer’s heat and dry spells. The winds were especially helpful in promoting phenolic ripening, easing the intensity of the heat, and maintaining the necessary temperature fluctuations. As a result, the grape clusters were evenly distributed on the vines, with excellent size, weight, and density.

The harvest began on August 28 with the younger Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines and wrapped up on October 5, finishing with the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and the vines at higher elevations in Castiglioncello di Bolgheri. This year’s harvest unfolded in three distinct phases, all of which came together to define the quality of the 2024 vintage.

The first phase was quite warm, leading to rapid ripening and higher sugar levels in the grapes. Then came the rain, which gave the vines a boost and extended the hang time of the grapes, helping with phenolic ripening. The final stage, which stretched out due to intermittent rain and cooler temperatures, allowed us to work in the cellar under lower temperatures, giving us greater control over fermentation and enhancing the aromatic extraction. The lower sugar levels resulted in musts that were fresh and balanced, with moderate alcohol potential.

Overall, we’re very satisfied with the 2024 production. It surpassed the 2023 output and several recent harvests, both in volume and in quality. The grapes reached full ripeness, arriving at the winery in perfect health, with firm, intact skins.

Climatic Trends 

Following an autumn marked by cold temperatures and rain, the winter was relatively mild, with no extreme cold spells and higher-than-usual heat accumulation compared to 2023. 

January was warmer than usual, with limited rainfall. Sunny and cloudy days alternated, but northerly winds kept precipitation at bay. February also brought above-normal temperatures, with the exception of heavy rains on February 3 and 4, but the rest of the month remained dry. From mid-February, temperatures dropped with consistent, sometimes heavy rain, which persisted through the end of the month and into the first half of March – ideal conditions for the vines and for replenishing the soil’s water reserves. Temperatures in March were below seasonal averages, particularly at night.

Starting around March 16, temperatures rose, even exceeding seasonal norms, although cloudy skies and occasional rain lingered. A week before Easter, in late March, more intense rain and cooler temperatures arrived, but this posed no threat to the vines, which were just beginning to awaken from dormancy. However, we had to increase efforts to control weeds. 
By mid-April, temperatures had climbed above seasonal norms, and a few rain showers kept our agronomists busy.

The combination of warmer temperatures and well-hydrated soils resulted in early bud break, about 7-10 days ahead of 2023. The lack of sudden temperature drops meant bud break was remarkably even, something we hadn’t seen in years, leading to vigorous vine growth.

Late April brought colder weather and rain, with snow falling in the Tuscan Apennines on April 23-24. Fortunately, Bolgheri saw no frost or snow, so production was unaffected. The cooler temperatures merely slowed the growth, which had initially been ahead by 8-9 days. May ushered in the arrival of warmer weather, with average seasonal temperatures. May and June brought clear skies and calm winds, with a few rain showers that replenished the subsoil water reserves without harming the vines. The flowering and fruit set phases were completed by the end of June, and despite concerns about the rainy season potentially affecting these delicate stages, the results were positive. The vines thrived, with well-formed, evenly distributed clusters. 

The careful vineyard management during the rainy April-May period ensured the vines stayed in excellent health. Late June saw variable weather, with some cloud cover and stable temperatures, while July brought intense heat without rain. However, the vines remained in perfect shape, thanks to the soil’s water reserves and the steady breezes that mitigated the heat. Veraison started on July 6, about a week earlier than usual. August was intensely hot, but the vines showed no signs of stress. A cooling weather front around mid-August brought some relief, with lower temperatures and a bit of rain, which helped reinvigorate the vines. Ripening continued steadily, thanks to the healthy foliage. Late August brought sunny, hot days with cooler nights, dipping to around 20-21°C, which created ideal conditions for phenolic and technical ripening to align perfectly, especially in the higher-elevation vineyards.
 

Harvest notes

The 2024 harvest began on August 28, starting with the younger Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines, followed by the older Merlot vineyards. The grapes were healthy, fully ripe, with no green berries, and had crisp, intact skins, resulting in fresh, well-balanced musts.
 

On September 5, an Atlantic weather front brought some rain and a notable drop in temperatures, especially at night. This fortunate turn of events slowed the ripening process, helping to control sugar levels and balance the alcohol potential of the musts. The rain also provided a welcome pause, allowing for a smooth conclusion to the harvest.The harvest progressed smoothly, and the rainfall during the picking season did not affect the quality of the grapes, thanks to the excellent health of the vines and the favorable location of our vineyards – hillsides with well-drained soils surrounded by forests.

The harvest concluded on October 5 with the grapes from the highest-elevation vineyards in Castiglioncello di Bolgheri (400 meters above sea level).

Cabernet Franc was harvested in the first week of September, while Cabernet Sauvignon was the last to be picked. The harvest wrapped up on October 5.

Fermentations were conducted using estate-specific yeast strains that had been reactivated about a week before the harvest began.
This year, we chose to use yeast strains from the 2020, 2018, and 2019 vintages, aiming to enhance the character of the musts, focusing on freshness, salinity, and varietal aromas.

Primary fermentations are still underway, with about 65% completed so far, and the musts showing excellent organoleptic qualities. Acidity and pH levels are perfectly balanced (5.90-6.00 g/l acidity and 3.50-3.55 pH). The fermentations were controlled at 27-28°C, with macerations lasting 10-12 days for Merlot and 13-15 days for Cabernet. Depending on grape maturity, we adjusted délestage and open-air pumpovers to manage fermentation temperatures and support yeast metabolism. Malolactic fermentations are about 25% complete, and the early results are highly promising. The wines are well-balanced, fresh, with great palate density, and perfectly ripe tannins.

Carlo Paoli, General Manager and Head of Oenological Team