Gavin Quinney s Bordeaux Report THE WEATHER 214 To understand the weather is to understand the vintage - and the wines. My first vintage was in 1964 and I can honestly say that, since then, no two vintages have been the same. Every vintage has been different and has its own character. Jean-Claude Berrouet, winemaker at Petrus 1964-27 and now a consultant, during the harvest at Petrus, 3 October 214.
Introduction The English are renowned for talking about the weather and the following report, it could be said, takes this to a new level. As a grower and wine producer in Bordeaux, the impact on the different grape varieties and terroirs is fairly obvious. (It can also be quite dramatic, speaking as a viticulteur who lost half the crop to hail in 29 and 213.) Over the years, I ve gathered a fair amount of data and visited hundreds of vineyards across the region. The evolution of the vines and the grapes, from budburst in the spring through to the autumn harvest, can be completely absorbing, even before we get to taste the wines. Admittedly, this report on the weather in Bordeaux in 214 will only be of interest to a select few. If you re one of them (my commiserations), it should work well on an ipad, laptop or desktop, or on a mobile with a larger screen. Gavin Quinney Twitter @GavinQuinney
Table of contents 4. 1 Points About the Weather. Bordeaux Rainfall & Temperature 214 6. Bordeaux Yields 26-214 7. Bordeaux Rainfall by Region 214 8. Bordeaux Rainfall (No. of days of rain) 214 9. The same vine in St-Emilion during veraison, or colour change (%) 1. Bordeaux Rainfall Comparison 2-214 11. Bordeaux Temperature by Region 214 12. Bordeaux Sunshine Hours Comparison 2-214 13. Bordeaux Temperature Comparison 2-214. Bordeaux Weather March 214 17. Bordeaux Weather April 214 19. Bordeaux Weather May 214 21. Bordeaux Weather June 214 23. Bordeaux Weather July 214 2. Bordeaux Weather August 214 27. Bordeaux Weather September 214 29. Bordeaux Weather October 214
Bordeaux 214-1 points about the weather Overall 214 was a book-end vintage: a relatively cool and damp summer was propped up by excellent flowering in June, and glorious September sunshine prior to the harvest. The wet and mild winter, notably in January and February, led to an early bud burst at the end of an equally mild March. The vines burst into life with the April sunshine, but slowed down during a chilly May. Plenty of sunshine in the first half of June was excellent for the flowering on the whole, with some exceptions. July was relatively cool and damp, despite heat spikes. The vines didn t get the hydric stress they needed to focus on fruit production. August was cooler and damper too, mildew had to be kept at bay during the holidays, and confidence was low. September saw the turnaround. A dry and sunny six weeks from the end of August to early October transformed the vintage. Rain in the second week of October took some of the shine off the harvest. A week more of sunshine would have been perfect. Unlike 211, 212, and 213, there was minimal threat of rot at harvest time on the reds in 214 (largely down to good weather during the flowering). Yields were approaching normal after the disastrous 213 crop; the September drought upped the quality - but it reduced the juice. 4
mm 2 1 Bordeaux Rainfall & Temperature 214 Wet, mild Jan and Feb Monthly rainfall consistent, on the face of it Summer wasn t great Drier and warmer pre and mid harvest 2 2 C 1 Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct 214 rain 3 yr average rain 214 Average temp 3 yr average temp Source: @GavinQuinney
Bordeaux Yields 26-214 7 6 214 yields almost back to normal after a grim 213 14 13 12 Million litres 27% 11 Thousand hectares 4 1 3 Note that the top chateaux (c. % of production) show mixed results for 214, volume wise. 9 8 2 96- (avg.) 1- (avg.) 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 214 (est.) 7 Yield - Million litres Vineyard area - Thousands hectares Source: CIVB/Douane @GavinQuinney 6
Bordeaux Rainfall by Region 214 2 16 Significant regional variation in the summer, notably July, and in September in the weeks before the harvest. mm 12 8 4 Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Leognan Graves Sauternes Entre Deux Mers Blaye Medoc north Haut Medoc centre St-Emilion Monthly average 3 yr monthly average Avg. rain for above regions Oct 13-Mar 214-692 mm. 3 yr avg - 27 mm April-Sept 214-391 mm. 3 yr avg 4 mm Source: @GavinQuinney NB about average 7
Bordeaux Rainfall (No. of days of rain) 214 3 2 May higher than average Crucial for flowering More rainy days than usual Holiday weather, pre-harvest 2 Days 1 Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Leognan Graves Sauternes Entre Deux Mers Blaye Medoc north Haut Medoc centre St-Emilion Monthly average 3 yr monthly average Source: @GavinQuinney 8
Bordeaux Rainfall Comparison 2-214 16 12 More consistent monthly rainfall in 214 than other vintages, until Sept which was dry, thankfully mm 8 4 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct 2 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 214 3 yr avg Total mm April-Oct 366 348 48 431 4 243 314 18 68 434 4 Source: @GavinQuinney 9
The same vine in St-Emilion during veraison, or colour change (%) 23 Aug 211 (1%) 21 Aug 212 (9%) 22 Aug 213 (2%) 21 Aug 214 (99%) 1
C 2 2 Bordeaux Temperature by Region 214 This chart shows why the growing season is April-Sept, red harvest in Oct Warmer than usual in April, June and Sept Cooler August 1 Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Leognan Graves Sauternes Entre Deux Mers Blaye Medoc north Haut Medoc centre St-Emilion Monthly average 3 yr monthly average Source: Gavin Quinney 11
Bordeaux Sunshine Hours Comparison 2-214 Hrs 32 Great for flowering Not so good Made the vintag e 3 28 26 24 22 2 18 16 14 12 1 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct 2 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 214 3 yr avg Total hrs April-Oct 7 143 14 143 1619 1618 1631 144 1444 161 Source: @GavinQuinney 12
2 2 Bordeaux Temperature Comparison 2-214 Early growth Chillier Similar monthly temperatures June-Sept 214, but that s unusual. C 1 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct 2 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 214 3 yr avg Source: @GavinQuinney 13
March 214 Château Lafleur, Pomerol 14
Bordeaux Weather March 214 C 4 3 3 2 2 Branches of bare-looking vines, pruned in winter, are attached to training wires. Jan and Feb were much wetter and less cold than usual. Mild ground temperatures would lead to early budburst. 4 3 3 2 2 MM 1 1 2/3 4/3 6/3 8/3 1/3 12/3 14/3 16/3 18/3 2/3 22/3 24/3 26/3 28/3 3/3 Rain Temp Max Average Min Total rainfall: 7.3 mm Bordeaux average 1982-211: 64 mm Average temperature: 1.1 C Bordeaux average 1982-211: 1.2 C Each day is the average of 6 sub-regions: Medoc, Margaux, Leognan, Sauternes, St-Emilion & Entre Deux Mers. Source: @GavinQuinney
April 214 Merlot emerging 16
Bordeaux Weather April 214 C 4 3 3 2 2 Early budbreak Early growth spurt - Sun, 2+ C above normal, warmer ground. Rain total was average but 1 C warmer for month Refreshment 4 3 3 2 2 MM 1 1 2/4 4/4 6/4 8/4 1/4 12/4 14/4 16/4 18/4 2/4 22/4 24/4 26/4 28/4 3/4 Rain Temp Max Average Min Total rainfall: 69.4 mm Bordeaux average 1982-211: 76 mm Average temperature: 13. C Bordeaux average 1982-211: 12.4 C Each day is the average of 6 sub-regions: Medoc, Margaux, Leognan, Sauternes, St-Emilion & Entre Deux Mers. Source: @GavinQuinney 17
May 214 Merlot, before flowering 18
C 4 4 3 3 2 2 Bordeaux Weather May 214 Colder than normal for 2nd year running.. Rainfall is down - opposite of 213. Early growth held back, cold ground. Sunshine for start of floraison ++ Rain after dry month is ok. 3 3 2 2 MM 1 1 2/ 4/ 6/ 8/ 1/ 12/ 14/ 16/ 18/ 2/ 22/ 24/ 26/ 28/ 3/ Rain Temp Max Average Min Total rainfall: 66.4 mm Bordeaux average 1982-211: 78 mm Average temperature: 14. C Bordeaux average 1982-211: 16.1 C Each day is the average of 6 sub-regions: Medoc, Margaux, Leognan, Sauternes, St-Emilion & Entre Deux Mers. Source: @GavinQuinney 19
June 214 Cabernet Sauvignon, in flower 2
3 3 Bordeaux Weather June 214 4 4 Start of flowering Ideal for flowering and forming of grapes Timing of heavy rain wasn't too bad 3 3 C 2 2 Hot and sunny 2 2 MM 1 Hail AC Medoc ( < 1% Bdx vineyard hit) 1 2/6 4/6 6/6 8/6 1/6 12/6 14/6 16/6 18/6 2/6 22/6 24/6 26/6 28/6 3/6 Rain Temp Max Average Min Total rainfall: 76.7 mm Bordeaux average 1982-211: 61 mm Average temperature: 2.2 C Bordeaux average 1982-211: 19.3 C Each day is the average of 6 sub-regions: Medoc, Margaux, Leognan, Sauternes, St-Emilion & Entre Deux Mers. Source: @GavinQuinney 21
July 214 Cabernet Sauvignon, before colour change 22
3 3 Bordeaux Weather July 214 4 4 After warm start, mild and many days of light rain. Heat spike, then more rain Rainstorms varied hugely by sector: 1-1mm in one day 3 3 2 2 C 2 2 MM 1 2/7 4/7 6/7 8/7 1/7 12/7 14/7 16/7 18/7 2/7 22/7 24/7 26/7 28/7 3/7 1 Start of veraison colour change Rain Temp Max Average Min Total rainfall: 8.3 mm Bordeaux average 1982-211: mm Average temperature: 2. C Bordeaux average 1982-211: 21.3 C Each day is the average of 6 sub-regions: Medoc, Margaux, Leognan, Sauternes, St-Emilion & Entre Deux Mers. Source: @GavinQuinney 23
August 214 Merlot, excess bunches removed 24
3 3 2 Bordeaux Weather August 214 4 4 Many days of light rain Risk of mildew Protracted veraison End of veraison Dry period begins phew 3 3 2 C 2 2 MM 1 1 2/8 4/8 6/8 8/8 1/8 12/8 14/8 16/8 18/8 2/8 22/8 24/8 26/8 28/8 3/8 Rain Temp Max Average Min Total rainfall: 66.6 mm Bordeaux average 1982-211: 7 mm Average temperature: 18.8 C Bordeaux average 1982-211: 21.4 C Each day is the average of 6 sub-regions: Medoc, Margaux, Leognan, Sauternes, St-Emilion & Entre Deux Mers. Source: @GavinQuinney 2
September 214 Château Lafite-Rothschild, Merlot harvest 26
C 3 3 2 2 1 Bordeaux Weather September 214 White harvest, always first, begins Crucially, a warm, in Pessac-Léognan dry month 4 4 Rain varies significantly by sector on these days, -3mm Red harvest begins in Pessac, later elsewhere White harvest continues Merlot harvest starts in Pomerol and in the Medoc 3 3 2 2 1 MM 2/9 4/9 6/9 8/9 1/9 12/9 14/9 16/9 18/9 2/9 22/9 24/9 26/9 28/9 3/9 Rain Temp Max Average Min Total rainfall: 37.6 mm Bordeaux average 1982-211: 83 mm Average temperature: 19.2 C Bordeaux average 1982-211: 18. C Each day is the average of 6 sub-regions: Medoc, Margaux, Leognan, Sauternes, St-Emilion & Entre Deux Mers. Source: @GavinQuinney 27
October 214 Château Cos d Estournel, Cabernet Sauvignon 28
3 3 Bordeaux Weather October 214 First Cabernet Red harvest Pity about Sauvignons in in full flow the rain but the Medoc everywhere limited impact Last day, a Friday, of red harvest for many Sweet whites harvest from late Sept to early Nov 4 4 3 3 2 2 C 2 2 MM 1 End of the red harvest 1 2/1 4/1 6/1 8/1 1/1 12/1 14/1 16/1 18/1 2/1 22/1 24/1 26/1 28/1 3/1 Rain Temp Max Average Min Total rainfall: 39.3 mm Bordeaux average 1982-211: 92 mm Average temperature: 16.2 C Bordeaux average 1982-211: 14.9 C Each day is the average of 6 sub-regions: Medoc, Margaux, Leognan, Sauternes, St-Emilion & Entre Deux Mers. Source: @GavinQuinney 29
The End My harvest reports from 214, by the way, can be found on JancisRobinson.com and the Liv-ex blog by searching my surname or Bordeaux 214. Gavin Quinney Twitter @GavinQuinney