Special Issue / News
2024, a vintage year of crossings
Primeurs 2024
To stay the course, we had to chart the way. It took seasoned crews and deft seamanship to safely reach port in 2024.
Weather Report
From the start, 2024 had us sailing in heavy seas, taking on more than 1000 millimetres from the end of
the previous harvest until April. Fortunately, the crew remained united: this was not their first crossing.
We communicated instinctively, we had the right reflexes, guided by our experiences of working organically, and we protected our vines very early on.
We soon reached open seas: the watch rotation was intense, to leave no window of opportunity. We had to stay the course in the face of unprecedented mildew pressure on the first leaves. At the end of May, the hint of a high-pressure system arrived and promised fine conditions for blossom, but coulure sneaked in – not only on the Merlot, but also on the Cabernet. The lull finally came in July-August, with ideal conditions – at last – after the heavy spring weather.
Those two months were the trade winds of our crossing. The measured winds blew steadily, neither too much nor too little. That summer was so mild: nothing to stop the vine from growing, the right level of stress to ripen our grapes and to push us all the way to the coast.
Downy mildew struck early, reducing our harvest, but was long forgotten by midsummer. Let’s not forget that mildew pressure is not necessarily synonymous with lower quality. Think back to 2020, 2018, 2000 or 1988…
The harvest was only a few miles away, but showers returned between late August and September. We reefed the boat for the last few tacks, and the grapes held out to the end, finally arriving safely into port!
Cape Horn or Lafite 2024
At the helm of Lafite, our captain Eric with his crew of solid Pauillac sea dogs were about to embark on what promised to be a difficult vintage.!
From April to the end of June, there were weeks of battles against mildew and the raging elements….Everything changed on June, with days of gentle, temperate breezes. The vines healed their wounds, the crew recharged their batteries.
By the end of August, the ripening process was running perfectly. Our berries were full of flavour and life, the result of a perfect summer after all those storms.
The harvest began on 23rd September with our best Merlot an ended on the 7th October with our Cabernet, sailing between the raindrops.
With short vinfications, gentle extractions and selected pressings, Olivier’s team now navigates in the cellar with elegance and precision.
What a milestone !
The Azores or Carruades 2024
A much-loved stopover for sailors before their Transatlantic crossing, the Azores are an archipelago of 9 islands, often protected by a magical high-pressure zone.
Like a navigator bent over his nautical charts, Louis knows each of these islands of terroir like the back of his hand: his mission was to help these parcels progress! Sharp trajectories, skillful pruning, he kept a firm grip on the helm of their ripeness despite the rough weather.
When it came to blending, it was all hands on deck: our old Merlots on clay, tireless and always charming, with our 4 fantastic plots ones on gravel. They were joined by the inevitable Cabernet franc of Passe-temps 62 and two fine Cabernet-Sauvignons, Tournât 91 and Vigneron 82. Once blended, these 9 parcels that make up the heart of Carruades revealed themselves even more.
Unity is strength!
Strait of Magellan or Duhart-Milon 2024
Navigating the Strait of Magellan requires skill, but above all, daring!
On 2nd September, the crew entered the Strait and began the harvest with our white grapes, in the most easterly of Duhart’s plots. Then it was time to be patient… The red grapes were tasting well, but we had to wait, and once again read the weather forecast with finesse to prepare to cut on the right days.
On 24th September, we began harvesting our red grapes from our youngest Merlot plots. We cut, we stopped, we cut, we stopped until 8th October.
That’s it, we’ve reached the Pacific!
Bay of Biscay or L’Evangile 2024
The vineyard is ready, the boat is in order. The weather window was not favourable, but we had to make a start. Aboard sailboat we knew we were in for a bumpy ride. Juliette and I glanced at each other a little fearfully; what did this new vintage have in store for us? This new crossing?
The first few nights set the tone, sailing was tough, and we had to keep reefing and reefing. April, May and June were wet, making for a complicated flowering period, and vine coulure was just around the corner. Team spirit enabled us to stay the course, and for a while there was no damage from mildew. The weather calmed, July was cool, and the sea became gentler. 10 knots with the boat, not bad, we dried off! August brought high pressure conditions – the kind that favours that infamous agricultural tan.
Exhausted but smiling, we’d arrived! It was a colourful crossing, with lots to talk about, and lots to enjoy!
