2014
2014
2014
In 2013 the precocity of the sauvignon blanc was more of an asset than usual because the grapes were able to achieve full maturity before the botrytis started to seriously develop. The low vigour of the vines, which is linked to their age (35 years) and the terroir, as well as the low yield, equally contributed to preventing the rot from spreading quickly, even though sauvignon blanc is usually prone to it. Prior to this, the cool and very dry August greatly contributed to the success of this vintage by enabling the grapes to ripen stress-free and under conditions that preserved both their acidity and their aromatic expression.
2013 has benefited from the great changes that have been introduced to the vinification process over the last five years, aimed at producing a white wine that is more complex and richer, but also fresher and lower in alcohol. Success in this great challenge will be achieved through considerable effort and drastic selection… Pavillon Blanc represents less than 40% of the harvest.
Pavillon Blanc 2013 is probably as great a success as 2012 or 2011, with a slightly lower quantity. Today, it is delicious to drink, but should still gain in complexity over the next five years. (October 2025)
Climate
After a very wet and mild winter, without any significant cold spells, spring was « normal »: May was rather cool and June was quite warm, so flowering happened on the usual dates, and under very favourable conditions; it was therefore very quick and homogenous, contrary to the previous year.
July didn’t bring us any great surprises, but August was particularly cool, without doubt one of the coldest we have seen in recent times. These low temperatures made it difficult for the grapes to change colour, which took a long time. Fortunately it didn’t rain much, but in neither July nor August did we have a really dry spell. As it often happens in Bordeaux, at the end of August anything was still possible; a prospect of a good vintage as well as of a mediocre one… The really fine sunny weather of September brought us exactly what we were hoping for: the heat and drought enabled the grapes to ripen perfectly, and the harvest to take place under ideal conditions. The complete opposite to what happened in 2013… The white harvest took place from the 15th to the 19th of September, and the red harvest from the 29th of September to the 10th of October.
In 2013 the precocity of the sauvignon blanc was more of an asset than usual because the grapes were able to achieve full maturity before the botrytis started to seriously develop. The low vigour of the vines, which is linked to their age (35 years) and the terroir, as well as the low yield, equally contributed to preventing the rot from spreading quickly, even though sauvignon blanc is usually prone to it. Prior to this, the cool and very dry August greatly contributed to the success of this vintage by enabling the grapes to ripen stress-free and under conditions that preserved both their acidity and their aromatic expression.
2013 has benefited from the great changes that have been introduced to the vinification process over the last five years, aimed at producing a white wine that is more complex and richer, but also fresher and lower in alcohol. Success in this great challenge will be achieved through considerable effort and drastic selection… Pavillon Blanc represents less than 40% of the harvest.
Pavillon Blanc 2013 is probably as great a success as 2012 or 2011, with a slightly lower quantity. Today, it is delicious to drink, but should still gain in complexity over the next five years. (October 2025)
Climate
After a very wet and mild winter, without any significant cold spells, spring was « normal »: May was rather cool and June was quite warm, so flowering happened on the usual dates, and under very favourable conditions; it was therefore very quick and homogenous, contrary to the previous year.
July didn’t bring us any great surprises, but August was particularly cool, without doubt one of the coldest we have seen in recent times. These low temperatures made it difficult for the grapes to change colour, which took a long time. Fortunately it didn’t rain much, but in neither July nor August did we have a really dry spell. As it often happens in Bordeaux, at the end of August anything was still possible; a prospect of a good vintage as well as of a mediocre one… The really fine sunny weather of September brought us exactly what we were hoping for: the heat and drought enabled the grapes to ripen perfectly, and the harvest to take place under ideal conditions. The complete opposite to what happened in 2013… The white harvest took place from the 15th to the 19th of September, and the red harvest from the 29th of September to the 10th of October.
Service & tasting
Discover our tips for serving and tasting your wine in the best conditions.
Service & tasting
Discover our tips for serving and tasting your wine in the best conditions.