Harvest: from September 30 to October 14
Blend: 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot
The winter was mild and rainy in Saint-Estèphe. We recorded 687 mm/27,04 inches between 1 October 2023 and 29 February 2024 (30-year average = 470 mm/18,5 inches).
Spring 2024 offered no respite. Rainfall was intense and regular (143 mm/5,62 inches in March, 147 mm/5,78 inches in May) and temperatures below seasonal norms. From the start of the growing season, our efforts were focused on protecting the vineyard against downy mildew. Our first preventive sprays took place shortly after the early bud burst (28 March). The health pressure led us to fear the worst, and we battled relentlessly. The vines held up well, helped by the fresh air resulting from their proximity to the Gironde. Despite very slow vegetative growth due to cool temperatures, flowering was early (5 June). It was spread out over ten days or so, with heavy rain causing some poor fruit set.
Summer set in at the end of June, and wasfairly dry and cool. Véraison was slow (mid-véraison on 23 August) but was boosted bythe rains at the end of August. To speed upthe ripening of our grapes while maintaininghealth in the vineyard, we stripped theleaves on 70% of our vineyard on one side(East/North) in early September.
One year follows another, but they are neveralike. After a historically long (17 days) andgenerous harvest in 2023, it took just 9 days toharvest our 70 hectares (281 acres) in 2024:healthy grapes and a very small crop. Our Merlotgrapes were picked from 30 Septemberonwards. As in 2023, we waited until the verylast moment to pick our great CabernetSauvignon grapes at full ripeness (after 5October). The last grapes were brought in on 14October.
