VINS HODGSON, FAIA 2023

About 2023

2023 will go down as one of the most complex vintages in recent memory. The “sortie de grappe” was generous and the fruit set successful, presenting an abundance of fruit. Mildew was a problem which required constant observation and frequent intervention, both manually and by copper application. These issues compounded when, just before harvest, we received significant rainfall combined with unusually high temperatures.

The grapes became fragile and susceptible to insects, including drosophilia which will cause a “pourriature acétique” in the fruit. The harvest needed to be started early and was sorted at the moment of picking, with all affected grapes and unripe grapes left out of the bins. For this, the harvest required extra time, management, and surveillance than usual. We count ourselves fortunate to have had a dedicated team who understood the problem and worked hard to pick a healthy harvest!

Blending was done in September of the following year and the wines remained in tank until bottling in April 2025. We have chosen to extend the time “en masse” an extra 6 months to allow the wine to further stabilise before bottling.

Faia 2023

This vintage of Faia is unique as it is an assemblage of our parcels of oldest vines: Le Clos de Vigneau (~ 100 years) and Le Clos des Grands Champs (~ 50 years). The wine was fermented and aged in small barrels (20% new). The other part of the wine went into a new wine for this year titled Mont Jeunes Vignes. 

Kenji: '“Faia” is mostly clay sands, quartz, and a little volcanic soil. For me the defining terroir characteristic of ‘Faia’ is its very shallow soil. It’s a slice of earth about 30cm deep, all in the same zone.'

2023 was a cooler vintage and the wine is bright, rounded with less opulence than 2022 but no lack of intensity. Already enjoyable, we always recommend cellaring these wines if you can be patient as you will be duly rewarded.