Vineyard Decisions & Harvest Timing

If the weather set the stage, the choices made in vineyard and cellar determined the final act. The guiding principle throughout was clear: preserve freshness and avoid excess.

De-leafing and green harvesting were largely avoided, with leaf canopies managed and in many cases trussed. This shields grapes from the sun, while the leaves also have reduced sun exposure for photosynthesis and lower transpiration rates which reduces water evaporation. All of these factors slow ripening. At Château La Conseillante, Nelly Richards described the use of clay and zinc to protect against UV – Australian sunscreen as she put it!

Harvest timing became critical. Pick too late and tannins risk becoming overly assertive; too early and ripeness may fall short. On the Right Bank, Merlot was picked unusually early, with Château La Conseillante beginning on 28 August, the earliest on record, and estates such as Canon following similar timelines.

On the Left Bank, harvests followed shortly after and were also exceptionally early. Château Montrose began on 29 August, a new record, Lafite Rothschild on 2 September, Cos d’Estournel on 3 September, and Mouton Rothschild from 5 September. Château Margaux took a different approach, waiting through the rain for full maturity and not beginning until 8 September, by which time many neighbours had nearly finished. Most picking was completed by 20 September.