The harvest of the whites took place from September 3rd to September 8th. The summery weather allowed us to harvest the Sauvignon grapes when they were perfectly ripe and concentrated, whereas the relative coolness of August enabled the grapes to retain all the acidity necessary for the balance of the wine and its ageing ability. We are continuing to select rigorously in the vineyard so we have not produced more wine than in preceding years, with only about a third of the harvest being included in the blend. The Pavillon Blanc is in line with the wines that we have been producing since 2011; they are just as concentrated but less rich in alcohol. Harvesting a little earlier and severity of selection has enabled us to obtain such a result.
The nose of the Pavillon Blanc 2015 is very aromatic and very complex, it is round on the palate and the finish is supported by great freshness. Even if we know that this wine will gain from further aging, it is difficult to resist now. (October 2018)
Margaux
Climate
Winter, which was appreciably colder than those of the previous years, caused late, but perfectly regular blossoming. Dry and sunny weather in the spring made for optimal conditions, so flowering took place very quickly and homogenously. This hot, dry weather persisted throughout the months of June and July, to a point where we were afraid there could be water stress, at least in the most sensitive plots. Fortunately a little rain in August arrived just in time to ensure a quick and regular colour-change. The drought, which arrived again in September, together with very warm days and cool nights, enabled the grapes to balance their richness in sugar with good acidity, to render their tannins more silky and to make their aromatic potential more complex.
The harvest of the reds took place from September 18th to October 6th. The small size of the grapes and their thicker skins indicated a very high concentration of tannins. The 2015 weather conditions are, in fact, the feature of very great vintages, like 2005, 2009 and 2010.