When we keep on talking about miracles, we can forget that nature is just capricious, especially in Bordeaux… But it is precisely the succession of vintages so different and so unpredictable that gives Bordeaux a little of its charm, a part of its interest and especially a genius like no other. We would have never thought at the end of August that the wines would have achieved such a level of quality. Ah, the famous indian summer that we always wish for and don't always get, but when it deigns to appear, sets our hearts alight with mad enthusiasm. 2007 is one of those vintages in which worry (sometimes anguish), hope, enthusiasm, doubt and serenity are all felt in succession. However, our most consistent reaction in the end this year was…..severity; particularly at the blending, where only 32% of the crop was selected to go into the first wine. This was the most rigorous selection ever performed. However, all our great parcels went into the blend, some of them at their best level of quality. The Cabernet, of course, so noble, such pedigree, both fine and dense at the same time, making up 87% of the blend, dominates, as usual, the personality of the Château Margaux 2007.The Merlot (11%) is more where it belongs this time, thanks to its full, tender and rich texture, along with the Cabernet Franc (2%) which clearly benefited from the conditions of the vintage. There was finally only a little late-ripening Cabernet, and of course our Petit Verdot, which was not able to join the leading group, to remind us of the painfully long ripening process this vintage… We can start drinking it now even if wisdom would have us wait several more years. (October 2018)
Margaux
Climate
The especially mild and dry winter brought about an early bud-break for the vines, at least two weeks ahead of an average year, such as 2006. Then, the spring was, as usual, a mixture: March was mild and wet, April very hot and very dry, May mild and very rainy and June just about normal, slightly more humid than average. The flowering was therefore staggered, but the incidence of coulure was minor. Many lesser and great vintages have begun in the same circumstances…
From the end of June on, a period of cool weather with relatively little sunshine set in with frequent rain showers which created the general impression of a « lousy summer ». These weather conditions brought about a high risk of downy mildew, which is fortunately much better controlled nowadays than in the past, as well as vine vegetation growth which kept on shooting right up to the end of August. At this stage we were getting a little concerned, though we are always know from experience that a complete turnaround in the situation in the month of September should not be ruled out…
The pleasant surprise of a fantastic hot and very dry month of September therefore should not have taken us aback –so many good and very good vintages, such as 2002 and 2004 very recently, went through the same scenario! This fine, sunny weather even carried on through to October, enabling us to pick plots very late which had finally reached ripeness at the end of a growing season of record length. (Picking began on September 27th)