The crop yield of the vines, expressed in terms of production per hectare (kilos of grapes or hectolitres of wine), is a key factor in grape quality. A harvest which is too abundant never reaches full ripeness, because the vine plants use their energy wastefully on trying to feed too many bunches at the same time. They may even die prematurely, which is in fact an added reason to moderate the yield. The Appellation Contrôlée system has very wisely set out strict rules in the area of crop yields in an attempt to protect the quality of wines and the life expectation of vines. As far as the Margaux appellation is concerned, it has set the most restrictive limit of the Médoc.

We might conclude by this that the more drastically we reduce production, the better the quality of the wine will be. However, too few bunches on the vine stimulate the vigour of the plant and encourage vine growth....to the detriment of the ripeness of the grapes. Vines actually do not like excesses, in whatever form. They perform best in balanced and moderate conditions. What really counts is not so much the yield of each plot, but a balanced crop load on each vine.