Winemaker Notes

Rainy first fortnight of winter with normal season temperature. Mild March provokes early budburst. Thanks to approximity to the Gironde, two dangerous episodes of hail in April only scarcelly affected vines of Gruaud Larose. Humid spring along with its frequent rains could have caused problmes of Mildieu but thanks to the dry conditions in July and August the danger was avoided. Heat waves were disrupted by summer storms which helped to manage water stress until the beginning of the harvest. Some rain on the last week end before the harvest restored “metabolism” of the vines