The white grape harvest took place between the 7th and the 13th of September, a little later than the average over the last ten years. As the acid potential of the vintage was high, acidity was not the only parameter in deciding the time of harvest: other factors such as the development of pleasant and complex grape aromas were equally important. The dates of the harvest were also timed in a way to avoid the rains forecasted for the second half of September. The grapes were in perfect health and had an excellent juice concentration.
The Pavillon Blanc blend represents 52% of the 2021 harvest and is sumptuous on the palate. Perfectly balanced, with a rich and complex concentration, this wine opens with a creamy taste and has a fresh acidity that lends it an enduring, long finish. In terms of quality, it is likely on par with the 2017 vintage. (April 2022)
Margaux
Climate
The winter of 2021 was relatively mild, although quite wet, with more than 230 mm of rain falling in the first two months of the year. With the month of March being drier and warmer, our vines flowered between the 23rd and the 30th of the month. Spring was marked by frequent and severe episodes of frost, testing the frost protection sprinkling systems on our white grape vineyards like never before. Temperatures fell so drastically that we lost close to a hectare's worth of our white harvest. On the other hand, our red grape vineyards were less affected by the cold, with only a few vines hit by some morning frost.
May and June recorded quite a bit of rainfall, and we had to be watchful to prevent the spread of fungal diseases. The determination of our team eventually paid off and we were able to maintain the grapes and leaves in good health. Budbreak occurred between the 1st and the 6th of March in average conditions, however the fruit-set was excellent, with only a few of the older plots falling prey to coulure or shatter.
After a rainy month of July, August and the first half of September were extremely dry. Just after we had finished picking the white grapes, we had about 45 mm of rain, raising concerns of a poor red harvest.
As in the 2017 vintage, we were faced with the following choice: pick grapes that were not fully ripe before they could potentially be attacked by Botrytis, or wait till the end of September to harvest the grapes when they would be riper and more concentrated from the additional sunshine. And as in that year, the decision was made to prioritise the quality of the grapes. The early Merlot plots were harvested on the 24th of September while the later Cabernet harvests only began by the 4th of October. The harvest was completed by the 13th of October. The season definitely presented its fair share of challenges, but the quality of our work and attention ensured we had an elegant and dense vintage.