2024 Harvest Report
“Année horrible…mais tout va bien qui finit bien”
The 2024 growing season in the Loire Valley was marked by complex weather conditions and significant viticultural challenges. From early spring, growers faced increased pressure from mildew, exacerbated by regular periods of rainfall and relatively cool temperatures. Unlike recent years, where drought conditions were prevalent, 2024 saw rainfall levels twice the annual average in many regions. This made vineyard management particularly difficult with increased numbers of treatments across the board required to combat disease at a time when even accessing the vineyards with a tractor was difficult. These climatic conditions have led to late harvests and lower-than-expected yields across many appellations.
Despite these challenges, the quality of the wines will largely depend on the vigilance of the growers and their ability to adapt their practices. Those who closely monitored the vines, intervened at the right time, and managed to limit the effects of mildew and coulure have achieved healthy grapes and promising juice. On the other hand, vineyards that were unable to react quickly are reporting very low yields and wines that may lack aromatic complexity. Fortunately, none of our growers fall into this category. Overall, the 2024 vintage is expected to produce wines with freshness and good acidity, although with lower alcohol levels compared to previous vintages, particularly in the regions most affected by the climate.
Picking started in mid to late September in most appellations and was mainly finished by the end of September or early October, although it has continued into mid to late October for the reds of Chinon and Saumur Champigny and some dry Chenins and there will be some late-picked grapes “in waiting” still on the vines as we write.
As usual, Alex and Chris will be visiting all our producers from the Auvergne to Muscadet in November and December to taste the new vintage, putting together bespoke blends for some of our customers and discussing pricing and volumes for all the wines. This two-month project, which will take us right up to Christmas, culminates in the publication of our new catalogue early in January 2025
Regional Summary
During harvest we managed to visit every appellation and many of our growers, so ahead of producing our full vintage report, which will give specific details on the quality of the finished wines, here is a summary of the 2024 vintage and our musings on tasting the first juices of this challenging vintage.
Muscadet
The Muscadet region faced a challenging vintage, characterized by lower yields (between 10/15Hl/ha for organic & 20/30hl/ha for sustainable) due to filage (or “early bunchstem necrosis”) and extreme mildew
pressure. Harvest started in mid-September, but the vintage is considered late with difficult ripening conditions. Although the wines show nice freshness, alcohol levels are generally lower than average, with higher-than-usual acidity, largely due to the cool and wet climate that dominated the growing season
Anjou
Harvest began in late September and is expected to continue until early November. While yields are near normal in some parcels, the wet conditions favoured the development of botrytis, requiring rigorous hand sorting in the vineyards to discard affected bunches. Acidity levels are generally good, with alcohol levels ranging from 10.5% to 11.5%. However, some plots experienced reduced yields due to heavy rainfall and delayed ripening periods.
Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur Champigny
As the harvest has only just started it is still very early days for these predominantly red appellations but having visited the vineyards over the past few weeks the bunches looked numerous and very healthy with very little sign of mildew and rot for those who were very attentive throughout the growing season. Yields look OK and we think quality will be good too, but more to come on this once we have tasted the wines in a few weeks’ time
Vouvray & Montlouis
The 2024 vintage for AOP Vouvray has produced average yields of around 30 hl/ha. Again, the climatic conditions have been challenging, with significant pressure from coulure affecting yields. The wines have an alcohol content of approximately 12%, with a total acidity measured at 6.5 g/l. Despite these challenges, the wines show good potential, and careful attention to vinification and aging will be crucial in revealing the true potential and quality of the harvested grapes.
Touraine
Fortunes appear to be fairly varied across this large workhorse of an appellation, with those vineyards closer to the Cher generally delivering better yields and quality than those bordering the Loire. That said, there are winners and losers across the appellation and missed treatments at crucial times have led to severely reduced yields in some cases. Potential alcohol should come in around 12% to 12.5% and total acidities between 5 and 5.5 g/l should provide wines with decent concentration and excellent freshness. The most successful vineyards have produced yields of around 55 hl/ha but others that suffered from the climatic conditions will be lower, so we are expecting average yields of around 40 hl/ha across the appellation.
Central Vineyard Satellites – Reuilly, Quincy, Menetou-Salon and Coteaux du Giennois
The rainy conditions in September significantly affected these appellations. Yields are among the lowest in the region (around 15 hl/ha), due to frost, coulure, and mildew. While the grapes are mostly healthy, phenolic ripeness is incomplete, which could result in wines with slightly less structure and aromatic complexity than normal Menetou-Salon and the Giennois are possibly the worst affected of the appellations with organic growers being worst hit despite twice the normal number of treatments.
Pouilly-Fumé
The 2024 vintage in Pouilly was one of the most difficult in recent years. The region was severely impacted by mildew, leading to significant losses. Yields are historically low, ranging between 25 and 30 hl/ha. However, the harvested grapes are of good sanitary quality, with alcohol levels between 12.5% and 13%, and well-balanced acidity. The vintage could deliver wines with interesting aromas, despite a certain astringency related to high malic acidity but clever winemaking and adjustments in the cellar should still result in quality wines.
Sancerre
Sancerre was not spared from the challenging weather, with yields varying between 25 and 50 hl/ha. Mildew pressure and frequent rain during flowering impacted grape quality. However, the white juices show alcohol levels between 12% and 13%, with balanced acidity. The reds also display good freshness, though Pinot Noir yields were lower than normal. The aromatic profile of the wines is promising but will depend on how the malic acidity is managed.
Conclusion
The 2024 vintage in the Loire Valley will be remembered as one of the most difficult in recent decades. The season was dominated by excessive rainfall and high mildew pressure, which affected both yields and grape quality. However, this vintage once again highlights the importance of meticulous work in the vineyard. Growers who adapted their practices and intervened swiftly were able to limit the damage, and their wines may offer pleasant surprises in terms of freshness and balance.
This vintage is characterised by wines with moderate alcohol levels and relatively high acidity, giving them a more “Ligérien” profile with enhanced vibrancy. The least affected regions, notably certain parcels in Pouilly, Sancerre, and Muscadet, should deliver wines with interesting aromas and good balance. However, careful selection and blending will be crucial to ensure optimal quality, particularly in appellations where phenolic ripeness was lacking.
In summary, 2024 is a technical vintage, where vigilance and attention to detail in the vineyard will be the keys to success. We eagerly await the first tastings of the wines in their early stages of maturation to better assess their potential and in the meantime, please do look at our Instagram account for photos we have taken during harvest.
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