PRIMEURS

Each vintage is unique, it goes without saying, but in 2019 nature offered us a very singular scheme in terms of our history.The 2019 vintage combines strong climatic moments with long periods of very hot weather, in June, July, August but also in September or with small humid periods. As at the beginning of June, the flowering period was cut in half with a very good start and finally a unusual sagging during the berry set. The vintage is clearly marked with the seal of heat and dryness. We could relate the fact as if we had harvested two vintages in one: on the one hand breathless merlots, having undergone the dryness and the heat with very ripe grapes marked by potential degrees except norm and on the other hand, fresher cabernets sauvignon, invigorated by the few rains of the last ten days of September and which expressed a more classic character, well known in Médoc. In the end, very confusing, it was impossible for us, wine-growers to give a correct estimate of the yields, as it was impossible to truly describe it before starting the blending. What will it look like we said to ourselves? The quality of the wines of 2019 evokes two worlds which unite wonderfully; an extraordinary assembly experience for a combination of divine, dense and generous fruits. They were delicately balanced by tight and tasty tannins.                                                

Éric Boissenot Œnologue Docteur en Œnologie et Ampélologie

A vintage faithful to its margalais terroir. The nose has aromas of red fruit and some tobacco notes. The attack is frank with a nice freshness and fine tannins. A certain behavior in the mouth which prolongs the pleasure.

« 2018 is a vintage that will certainly mark the spirits ... On the one hand because it was very difficult to born. A humid spring and an exceptional pressure of fungal diseases were followed by a summer with extreme sunshine conditions.Certain areas of the Margaux appellation and more generally the South of the Médoc were favored by a few thunderstorms during the summer which allowed to reduce the impact of the water stress.

The musts with complicated fermentation potentials (high degrees, malic acid in low concentration) ended up keeping the technical teams under pressure until the end of the winemaking process. In addition, the quality of the wines produced has a character and a quite remarkable sweetness. From the first days of vinification, the vats perfumed the cellars with a generous and intense fragrance, letting the musts with a juicy and round  characters. At the end of the maceration, our feelings were confirmed when the tastings revealed powerful and concentrated wines. The levels of acidity remained moderate despite their high levels. This acidity allowed the wines to keep a surprising freshness. On the aromatic level, the wines are expressive and precise, the palate is both powerful and silky.» Eric Boissenot, Oenologist

"The comparison between vintages brings us immediately to great references ... 2009 for the richness and roundness with its solar temperament ; 2016 for the power and smoothness of the tannic frame and the remarkable ageing potential. A vintage at the crossroads of the best of both worlds: a precise blend of classicism and generosity. " Eric Boissenot, Oenologist

Winter had experienced one of the largest rainfall deficits since 2000. As for the temperatures, there is a contrast between the first part of the winter which was cold and the second part with very mild temperatures. This tempered the budburst which was still relatively early. April was marked by a frost episode of a rare intensity. Temperatures reached negative values, inflicting particularly severe damages on the vineyard. The plots on the ridges, plateaus and near the Gironde have been spared. After this episode, the precocity of vegetative growth was accentuated thanks to the very mild temperatures. The bloom was fast and the berry setting was excellent. Our plots in biodynamic cultivation showed particularly interesting health profiles with sustainably healthy foliage especially after the summer rains and early September when the disease pressure was high. At the time of the harvest, we found that the skin was thick and the seeds ripe. The pulps were aromatic and that the tannins were little astringent. 2017 is characterized by ripe tannins and the wines produced are balanced, aromatic and dense.

The nose has aromas of ripe fruit with blackcurrant and black cherry. It is fine and elegant. A touch of licorice and cardamom complete it. On the palate, the tannins are ripe and very elegant. Aromas of black fruits and spices on the palate. The freshness is well integrated and gives a beautiful harmony to the wine. The tannins are velvety and wrapped. The wine is elegant and pleasant to drink.

Winter broke all records in terms of rainfalls and was one of the mildest ever recorded. The climatic incidents were numerous, making this beginning of the season particularly complex, with frost and the incessant pressure of mildew until the end of June. In summer, the trend is reversed with a very dry July. It is noted that the water deficit increased the accumulation of anthocyanins in the berries and high temperatures have favored the accumulation of sugar. The drop in temperatures at mid-September helped to preserve the aromatic quality of the grapes and encourage the ripening and the extraction of the tannins. To conclude, the year started with a complicated weather.

Fortunately, the warm and dry summer completed with a pretty cool late season, allowed the grapes to grow in the best conditions and with an optimal maturation. The wine is balanced and rich in color and tannins. The harvest began on September 25th and ended on October 17, 2016.

A very nice and balanced vintage. The nose has a beautiful aromatic energy of tobacco, liquorice, black fruits and spices. The palate is fleshy and dense.

The vintage has a lot of personnality. A wine with a beautiful tannic structure and finesse.

Winter was both rainy and dry at the end of the season. From April, the favorable thermal conditions, associated with a correct reloading of water of the soil, contributed to a homogeneous bud bursting. The flowering started at the end of May and was fast with a correct fruit set rate. Summer became very hot from June 25th and the first phase of the veraison was slowed down by these particular dry conditions. The progression of the veraison was pretty slow during the last days of July. These restrictive hydric conditions associated with a warm thermal context allowed the fruit skins to thicken, to concentrate in tannins and a rapid evolution of the pips. From the end of July, the weather conditions changed radically. Indeed we observed a succession of rainy episodes which finally unblocked the veraison. After that, the sunshine allowed to ripen the tannins in a optimal way. They were very elegant.

2015 is a great vintage. The Merlots were exceptional and the Cabernets were able to ripen until the end and their tannins improved highly in September. The harvests began on September 16th and ended on October 2nd of 2015.

The vintage shows all the features of a great wine. A nice nose with a mix of fresh fruits, floral notes and spices. A very beautiful clarity of the fruit. On the palate, the tannins are polished and round. A nice balance between freshness, fruitiness and a silky tannic structure.

The vintage is both elegant and dense. A very beautiful complexity.

2014 experienced an early spring and a temperate summer until the end of August. The vine had a long vegetative cycle and a late maturity. These conditions had mobilized the teams and imposed a sustained work in the vineyards to protect it.

At the end of August, a warm and sunny weather came back and lasted almost 60 days! The optimum conditions with warm days and cool nights for a perfect and regular maturation of the grapes. We observed an exceptional maturity of the tannins like in the great vintage: grapes were rich in polyphenols, they had a good level of acidity and sugars and a beautiful freshness of the fruit.

The harvest took place from September 23rd to October 8th.

2014 is a great success which gave wines with a beautiful balance, ripe tannins and concentration. It is a fleshy and fruity vintage in the purest style of Margaux.

The climatic conditions of 2013 were difficult. Heavy rainfall will remain anchored in our memories. However, the months of July and August were particularly beautiful and hot. What saved the vintage. This vintage is full of subtleties, wrested from nature by precision and rigor in the work. They are moderately strong but soft and elegant. The cabernet sauvignon are the backbone of the blend. They were harvested ripe without any vegetal notes.

As for the merlot, they are unfortunately not present after a heavy sagging comparable to the vintage 1984.

A fresh, pleasant and radiant nose. A rather fine and soft mouth. The fine tannins are smooth and fine. The wine is pleasant to dring now.

In 2012, after an especially difficult Spring and beginning of Summer, the weather conditions were very favorable for the plants from mid-July. The Winter was very cold and dry, with an important deficit of rainfall. When the temperatures became warmer at the end of Winter, the budburst began but was long. The phenological shift also delayed the flowering, which was very disrupted by rainfall. At the berry set, there was sagging of the merlot and the yields were rather low. Generally, Spring was very wet with a heavy pressure of mildew. Prophylaxis and the balance of the vines played an important role in the control of fungal diseases. The rains stopped in mid-July for more than 2 months, which is extremely rare.  From this date, more favorable temperatures allowed to catch up but the high temperatures of August and especially the lack of water locally slowed the ripening of the young vines that do not have a sufficiently developed root system. Finally, in late September rainfall led to the development of the skin and accelerated the maturation. We started the harvest on October 1st  to end on October 10th, 2012. But we had to hurry to get healthy harvest because the rains came back on October 7th.

 The distribution of the harvest on the foot (low yields) and the good condition of the vineyard, combining with a very precise work of sorting, were capital to optimize the quality of the vintage.Quickly, the merlot showed a remarkable flesh that we haven’t tasted for a long time. As the cabernet sauvignon, they did not disappoint us and were faithful to our land of Médoc. They are soft and rich of elegance. We will have powerful wines, tender and digestible. 2012 is a very good vintage. 

The vintage gave a fine and complex nose. The minerality is mixed with spicy notes, red fruits and a touch of preserved lemon. The palate is fruity, fresh and the tannins  are supple. The vintage has a beautiful tension and clearness. The aging will bring it, balance and finesse.

Winter and Spring were dry. The water deficit worsened a little more up to July and the high temperatures in June made the vine suffered.  The Merlot sagged after flowering. In July, the weather was unstable with rain and thunderstorms.

Some rain disrupted the harvest but eventually gave way to a much more stable weather and sunny after a week, allowing the grapes to finish ripening in good condition, especially for Cabernet Sauvignon which developed a huge potential.

2011 experienced unusual weather conditions that ultimately benefited many Cabernet Sauvignons. The grapes had a very good concentration of phenol compounds and very elegant tannins. The challenge of this vintage was a very strict sorting of the grapes.  However, there is a lower yield due to the weather, and the berries were rather small with a thick skin.

The vintage has given a wine with freshness and    finesse. With aromas of red berries, cassis and cherry,, that we also found in the mouth. The wine is         structured with fine tannins.