Description
Harvest period: September 18 – October 10, 2017.
Yield: 16 hl/ha.
Vinification: In wooden vats. Extraction by pneumatic punch-down. Maceration: 30 days.
Aging: In new oak barrels (55%), on fine lees, for 15 months. Unfined.
Bottling: At the château, May 16-17, 2019.
Blend: 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Weather conditions
Winter and early spring will be extremely mild and dry, with one of the largest water deficits since 2000, logically leading to early but even budburst, as early as March 26 for some of our plots, and an initial phase of rapid growth. The weather will change, however, from the second half of April, with the arrival of a high- pressure system bringing clear skies and northeasterly winds. The air mass will cool, and temperatures will drop …
The nights of April 27 and 28 will be terrible, not only because of the intensity but also because of the extent of this frost episode. No one will be spared, on a greater or lesser scale. Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere will be affected at 65%, Clos de l’Oratoire at 70%, Chateau Peyreau at more than 90%, as will Chateau d’Aiguilhe (60%) … Only La Mondotte will be spared.
After the consternation and dejection that will result from such an event, the time for work will come. A huge challenge. What to do? Cut it down? Rush in headlong? No, take the time, wait, observe again and again, assess the life still present in the woods … and intervene accordingly, fight …
Foot marking, prophylaxis, petiole analyses, liquid composts: the work will prove to be long, precise, but necessary in order to guarantee the future, even if only in the short term with the second generation bunches.
Because yes, the crazy gamble was taken to bet on the second generations: a 2-in-1 vintage, therefore …
The rest of spring will fortunately prove to be much sunnier, almost summery. Above- average temperatures, combined with dry weather until the end of June, will result in rapid and even flowering, starting as early as May 15th for the earliest plots!
Although the end of June will be very rainy, the summer will remain surprisingly dry, further perpetuating a water constraint established since winter, including on clay soils.
The rains observed at the beginning of September will complete the evolution of the film, the ripening will take place in a context of great homogeneity.
The need for individualized work throughout the season, between first and second generation bunches, will reach its peak during the harvest: while the first snips of the pruning shears will begin on September 14th and end on the 29th, the second phase of harvesting will extend from October 3rd to 10th …
