For this vintage, as for the other recent hot, dry vintages, acidity was the key parameter that determined the beginning of the harvest. And it was this acidity that decreased very rapidly between early and mid-August. Also, thanks to the determination and professionalism of the team at the property, we were able to respond sufficiently quickly and start the harvest exceptionally early.
As with the red grapes, the Sauvignon Blanc berries were smaller, as were the bunches, perhaps a consequence of the spring frosts in 2021, and so yields were disappointing. However, the quality of the vintage and its relative uniformity allowed us to use 50% of the white grapes for the Pavillon Blanc blend. The aromatic precision is tremendous. Pavillon Blanc 2022 has a delicate, balanced mouthfeel.
It has to be said that while every vintage brings new answers and teaches us something, it often also raises its fair share of questions. Sometimes we learn a little, and often we wonder a lot. Even if we do not completely understand it, this vintage is reassuring. How could we have imagined that such weather conditions could produce such well-balanced wines? (April 2023)
Margaux
Climate
The description of the weather conditions has begun the same way almost every year for the last ten years: 2022 was once again the hottest year on record... and to this, we must add another climate phenomenon: a severe drought. However, these two factors impacted the harvest in such a way as to produce an extraordinary vintage.
Apart from some frosts in mid-January, the winter of 2022 was mild and relatively dry, with just 150 mm of rain. Nationally, the spring of 2022 was the third warmest (13.2°C) since 1900, close behind 2011 and 2020. It was the same in Margaux, with record temperatures during June, sometimes exceeding 40°C. Fortunately, in typical Bordeaux fashion, there was regular rain throughout the spring, with 182 mm in Margaux. Summer brought further extremes: three long, intense heat waves; the thermometer again recorded temperatures over 40°C several times, and over 35°C for more than 14 days in July and August. Slightly more than six long weeks passed without a single drop of rain. The 20 mm that arrived at the end of August was welcome, but its effect was more to cool the air than to significantly rehydrate the surface soil.
In these conditions, budburst was relatively spread out, between March 28th and April 13th, depending on the grape variety and the nature of our diverse terroirs. Conditions were sufficiently good that no coulure or millerandage was observed in our plots during flowering, which took place in the week of May 24th, indicating an early vintage.
The summer weather then reinforced the early nature of the vintage. The white grape harvest took place extremely early, on August 18th.
For the red grapes, it lasted from September 8th to 27th, with normal temperatures in September and optimal harvesting conditions. The first autumn rains began on the last day of the harvest.