Perspectives on Vintage 2024
October 2024
Listrac Medoc
We had the pleasure of discussing the current Château Fourcas Hosten harvest – still underway – with winery director Eloi Jacob.
As in most northern French wine-growing regions, the 2024 vintage was very difficult from a climatic point of view in Bordeaux . However, the organic estate Château Fourcas Hosten took the risk of delaying the harvest as long as possible to allow the grapes to reach full ripeness.
The whites were harvested at full maturity: 13 to 24 September, and now the estate is in the middle of harvesting the reds in October. The risks have paid off.
2024 is undoubtedly a winegrower’s vintage, and what will set the quality of the wines in this Bordeaux vintage apart will be: fine terroirs, a small crop, no botrytis and a late harvest. Just as well, this vision also sums up Fourcas Hosten’s 2024 millésime!
2023-2024 Climate in Review
January 11th, 2024 – A blanket of snow on the roof at Château Fourcas Hosten, with more sub-0°C nights that followed – the necessary winter freeze for the vines.
After a summery start to Autumn until 17 October 2023, a deluge of rain accompanied the mild start to winter. More than 500mm of water fell between October 18 and the end of 2023, comparable to the previous record in the winter of 2019-2020, making soil work challenging.
Autumn 2023 temperatures since 1 November were 0.8°C higher than the average since 2000 in November, and 1.3°C higher in December.
The only real cold spell of the winter was around mid-January, with only fortnight that was cooler than average by 1.1°C, mainly due to six days marked by night frosts. From the second half of January onwards, temperatures rose back above normal, with maximum temperatures 2.7°C higher than the average.
This warm trend continued over February and March, as this mild and very wet winter (in total 900mm of rain, the wettest since 2000) contributed to a rather early bud break at Fourcas Hosten that started the week of March 21st until early April. Unfortunately this timed with the arrival of mildew, forcing the viticulture team to fight relentlessly against contamination.
The cool, rainy Spring slowed down the precociousness of the vintage. The flowering period began May 25th, the same as vintage 2023.
Finally, the excess water in the soil limited nitrogen absorption and therefore posed a potential risk of Botrytis later on. The coulure of the flowers acted in our favour to aerate the bunches of grapes, resulting in a small harvest but one that will allowed the grapes to ripen serenely.
May 31st – Flowering begins for the Cabernet Sauvignon.
The very dry summer (July and August) greatly helped the quality of the vintage by creating the water stress necessary for the ripening and concentration of the grapes.
Veraison was very late: mid-veraison for the whites at the beginning of August, and for the reds in mid-August.
Fortunately, the richness of the skins, the low nitrogen content and the preserved acidity of the pulp did not provide a favourable environment for Botrytis, allowing the grapes to reach sufficient ripeness to realise their full potential.
2024 Vintage
Early morning harvest team for the white grapes with beautiful blue sky!
As every year at Chateau Fourcas Hosten, all grapes are Estate only, and were hand harvested.
Fourcas Hosten took risk of waiting, and despite the rain in September, the week of 16 to 22 September was dry and windy, favouring the full ripening of our late-ripening whites and accelerating the ripening of the reds.
Fourcas Hosten’s whites are very aromatic (citrus fruit: lemon, grapefruit / vine peach / floral…) with very good acidity.
The late harvest will give sufficient ripeness without too much acidity and enough alcohol for balance (pH at 3.15 and expected alcohol between 12.5% and 13% abv).
The first reds harvested (Merlot) are deeply coloured, well-structured and fruity, with good acidity. The vegetal aromas of the Cabernet Sauvignon (from pyrazines => green bell pepper / capsicum) disappeared when the berries were tasted. This indicates that the grape variety is achieving phenolic ripeness very well, with elegant tannins.
As a projection, the wines from Vintage 2024 will be naturally low in alcohol, fresh, very colourful and well-structured – very appealing to today’s current palate!
Left: Sauvignon Gris Right: Semillon
Harvest reception and Fermentation cellar in action
Left – Harvesters in the vineyards bringing in the white grapes
Right – White juices fermenting in barrel
FOCUS: Ten Year Anniversary Bordeaux Vintage 2014
One of the treasures of Château Forucas Hosten is their deep cellar of vintages from the past decades, available for purchase. We take this occasion to celebrate the 10 years Anniversary of Château Fourcas Hosten 2014 vintage! This cuvée was a great performer, as recognised by top winecritics:
- 91/100 James SUCKLING
- 16/20 Jancis Robinson
- 15.5/20 Guide Bettane et Desseauve 2016
***For this 10th Anniversary Vintage, the Estate is releasing a special offer to celebrate! Don’t hesitate to contact us for special pricing and packaging.***
About Château Fourcas Hosten 2014
Grape harvest dates
• Merlot: from October 1st to 10th
• Cabernet Sauvignon: from October 1st to 18th
• Cabernet Franc: October 18th
Blend
• 60 % Merlot
• 39 % Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1 % Cabernet Franc
Yield: 40,5 hl/ha
Ageing
• 40 % new barrels
• 25 % one-year barrels
• 35 % two-year barrels
Bottling date at the Château
From April 29th to May 4th 2016
Alc: 12,5 % Vol.
Wines Available at Fourcas Hosten
Château Fourcas Hosten Blanc 2021
The Blend
- 66% Sauvignon Blanc
- 20% Sauvignon Gris
- 14% Sémillon
Made entirely by hand, this wine comes from a magnificent clay-limestone terroir.
Delicate vertical pressing and the stirring on fine lees all contribute to the care given to this great dry white wine.
This is the second white vintage to be certified organic.
Château Fourcas Hosten Rouge 2020
The Blend:
- 58% Merlot
- 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 1% Petit Verdot
- 1% Cabernet France
The Profile:The classic profile is straightforward, with a refined structure and elegant tannins.
Last vintage before Organic Agriculture, HVE3 certification.
