Never before had so many samples of the Pavillon Blanc been used for the final blend as in this year -from different plot selections, from the three successive sortings carried out in each of those plots at harvest and from the different vinification trials. Over thirty six batches made up this crop in which the overall yield was no more than 26hl/ha… This great diversity obviously reflects the huge efforts that have been made to take the quality of Pavillon Blanc to even higher levels. Drastic selection was made this year to get the best possible results out of a vintage that was particularly favourable. We will not therefore produce many more bottles than last year...
Everything, or almost everything, conspired to make 2007 a successful year for the whites, from the overall coolness of the summer weather to the outstanding condition of the crop, not forgetting the absence of hydric stres which can sometimes be quite marked in our Virefougasse parcel. The result is a wine of comparable quality, even superior, to the 2006! Rarely has the Pavillon Blanc nose been so intense, complex and deep. Probably never have we felt so much density and power on the palate. As the previous years, the alcoholic degree is very high, but the balance, and especially the freshness on the finish, somehow almost make you forget the level of alcohol. It has today reached its peak. (October 2018)
Margaux
Climate
The especially mild and dry winter brought about an early bud-break for the vines, at least two weeks ahead of an average year, such as 2006. Then, the spring was, as usual, a mixture: March was mild and wet, April very hot and very dry, May mild and very rainy and June just about normal, slightly more humid than average. The flowering was therefore staggered, but the incidence of coulure was minor. Many lesser and great vintages have begun in the same circumstances…
From the end of June on, a period of cool weather with relatively little sunshine set in with frequent rain showers which created the general impression of a « lousy summer ». These weather conditions brought about a high risk of downy mildew, which is fortunately much better controlled nowadays than in the past, as well as vine vegetation growth which kept on shooting right up to the end of August. At this stage we were getting a little concerned, though we are always know from experience that a complete turnaround in the situation in the month of September should not be ruled out…
The pleasant surprise of a fantastic hot and very dry month of September therefore should not have taken us aback –so many good and very good vintages, such as 2002 and 2004 very recently, went through the same scenario! This fine, sunny weather even carried on through to October, enabling us to pick plots very late which had finally reached ripeness at the end of a growing season of record length. (Picking began on September 27th)