VINS HODGSON, MONT “JEUNES VIGNES” 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.

Mont “Jeunes Vignes” 2023

Since 2017 we have planted three new parcels of chenin (2017, 2019, 2021) in the sector of Mont in the commune of Faye d’Anjou. The plants are a massal selection, often from our own vines, and grafted to rootstock using the technique of “greffe à l’anglaise”. The parcels were selected based on soil and exposition that we believe are suited to chenin.
Considering the complexity of the 2023 vintage we elected to separate the harvest of these young vines and to ferment the juice independently from the cuvée Faia. The wine was aged in small barrels and clay jars.

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. Despite being from the younger vines this wine doesn't lack complexity, offering a brighter slightly fresher style but delicious as usual.