News
The 2014 vintage – Fréderic Bonnaffous
The year got off to an unseasonably wet and mild start, with average temperatures of 8.5°c recorded in January and February at our weather station in Château La Garde. This resulted in an early, good quality budburst in the first Merlots at Château Reysson and the Cabernet Sauvignon at Château Pey La Tour in the third week of March.
Thankfully, the smooth start continued in frost-free conditions, and with a summery feel to April, rainfall and temperatures remained in line with seasonal averages, even if May seemed wetter. Vine growth began in great conditions across every region.
Flowering commenced during the last 10 days of May, with the first flowers detected at Château La Garde on May 22nd. These wet conditions, which were significant in places, were rapidly offset by hot, sunny weather in June, which accelerated and evened up flowering. Everything was looking very positive at the end of June, with growth almost 3 weeks ahead of schedule, and the vineyards generally looking healthy.
It was a relatively rainy, cool summer, which on the whole affected principally the red grapes; veraison and the start of ripening were dangerously delayed, while the return of wet weather promoted continued vine growth and the aggressive onset of mildew.
We focused on keeping disease pressure and vine growth at bay through punish ing work in the vineyards throughout August. Nerves were unsurprisingly on edge in the vineyard, and we had lost the remarkable head start enjoyed in spring. Worryingly, on August 27th we even noted a delay in ripening.