THE SEASONS:
2021 was marked by a wet winter and alternating periods of cold and mild weather. Spring began with clement weather conditions that encouraged early bud break in the vines. Unfortunately, the frost that affected the entire vineyard during the nights of 7 and 8 April had disastrous consequences, resulting in substantial yield losses. In May, vegetative growth continued slowly, due to the dull weather. The rain and cold returned to the vineyard. Summer conditions began in June, which encouraged flowering.
The end of the summer was characterised by dry, sunny weather and considerable differences between day and night-time temperatures.
Harvesting of the reds began at the end of September, much later than in previous vintages. At the very end of the season, Bordeaux enjoyed an Indian summer, bringing with it conditions conductive to the ripening of the grapes, particularly the Cabernet Sauvignons. Overall, for the red varieties, the grapes at harvest were bigger than previous vintages, with a high malic acid content and a lower than average sugar content.
The whites were harvested over the first three weeks of September. Picked in optimum conditions as far as the health of the vines was concerned, the wines present good acidity and outstanding aromatic potential.
Over in Sauternes, the vineyard was also severely hit by the vagaries of the weather. Botrytis was slow to develop owing to the rather cool summer. The rain in mid-September encouraged its development on ripe, healthy grapes with a higher level of acidity than in previous vintages.
THE SEASONS:
2021 was marked by a wet winter and alternating periods of cold and mild weather. Spring began with clement weather conditions that encouraged early bud break in the vines. Unfortunately, the frost that affected the entire vineyard during the nights of 7 and 8 April had disastrous consequences, resulting in substantial yield losses. In May, vegetative growth continued slowly, due to the dull weather. The rain and cold returned to the vineyard. Summer conditions began in June, which encouraged flowering.
The end of the summer was characterised by dry, sunny weather and considerable differences between day and night-time temperatures.
Harvesting of the reds began at the end of September, much later than in previous vintages. At the very end of the season, Bordeaux enjoyed an Indian summer, bringing with it conditions conductive to the ripening of the grapes, particularly the Cabernet Sauvignons. Overall, for the red varieties, the grapes at harvest were bigger than previous vintages, with a high malic acid content and a lower than average sugar content.
The whites were harvested over the first three weeks of September. Picked in optimum conditions as far as the health of the vines was concerned, the wines present good acidity and outstanding aromatic potential.
Over in Sauternes, the vineyard was also severely hit by the vagaries of the weather. Botrytis was slow to develop owing to the rather cool summer. The rain in mid-September encouraged its development on ripe, healthy grapes with a higher level of acidity than in previous vintages.
THE WINES:
Dry white wines:
The freshness of the summer contributes to the production of great dry white wines.
The Sauvignons are remarkable. When perfectly ripe, they reveal intense flavours. The Semillons, for their part, are fruity and fragrant.
Red wines:
Merlots suffered from the climatic conditions and particularly from a cloudy summer which delayed the growth of the vines. Despite high levels of malic acidity during the harvest, the wines show standard Ph and malic acidity levels after fermentation..They have fruit, colour, great suppleness and lower alcohol levels than previous vintages.
The Cabernets-Sauvignons are characterised by solid tannic structures and good depth. They are colourful, fresh and aromatic
Sweet wines:
The climatic conditions were extremely difficult in the Sauternes region : devastating frosts, excess rainfall...... Etc. The cool, low-rainfall climate of the summer delayed the appearance of the Botrytis. Towards mid-September, the rains favoured its appearance and the first trie (very limited in quantity due to the lack of concentration) took place at the beginning of October. The second trie is carried out around mid-October after an anticyclonic interlude which favours the concentration of the berries. The grapes collected during the second trie allowed to obtain wines that are remarkable for their purity and their acidity.
Dry white wines:
The freshness of the summer contributes to the production of great dry white wines.
The Sauvignons are remarkable. When perfectly ripe, they reveal intense flavours. The Semillons, for their part, are fruity and fragrant.
Red wines:
Merlots suffered from the climatic conditions and particularly from a cloudy summer which delayed the growth of the vines. Despite high levels of malic acidity during the harvest, the wines show standard Ph and malic acidity levels after fermentation..They have fruit, colour, great suppleness and lower alcohol levels than previous vintages.
The Cabernets-Sauvignons are characterised by solid tannic structures and good depth. They are colourful, fresh and aromatic
Sweet wines:
The climatic conditions were extremely difficult in the Sauternes region : devastating frosts, excess rainfall...... Etc. The cool, low-rainfall climate of the summer delayed the appearance of the Botrytis. Towards mid-September, the rains favoured its appearance and the first trie (very limited in quantity due to the lack of concentration) took place at the beginning of October. The second trie is carried out around mid-October after an anticyclonic interlude which favours the concentration of the berries. The grapes collected during the second trie allowed to obtain wines that are remarkable for their purity and their acidity.
LE MILLÉSIME 2021 VU PAR NOS EXPERTS
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THE EXPERTS VIEW ON THE VINTAGE 2021
"2021 was a vintage of decision. We want to qualify 2021 as a vintage of Hamlet : deci- sions, decisions, decisions. 2021 was a year of challenge but a vIntage where resilience, team spirit, collective work have been very sucessful to produce exceptional wines." - Jean-Sébatien PHILIPPE
CHÂTEAU L’EVANGILE, International Director for the châteaux at DOMAINE BARON DE ROTHSCHILD
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"2021 has a good structure, lots of fruits and freshness as Malescot has its identity." - Léa ZUGER - Owner CHÂTEAU MALESCOT SAINT EXUPERY
CHÂTEAU L’EVANGILE, International Director for the châteaux at DOMAINE BARON DE ROTHSCHILD
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"2021 has a good structure, lots of fruits and freshness as Malescot has its identity." - Léa ZUGER - Owner CHÂTEAU MALESCOT SAINT EXUPERY
"So 2021 at Talbot presents as a fruity, elegant vintage, very faithful to Saint-Julien philosophy, but with a lovely fullness without necessarily adding very insistent tannins." - Jean-Michel LAPORTE
General Director CHÂTEAU TALBOT
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"If we say a few words about the 2021 vintage, it was a complex, demanding year...we’re looking at a much more classic vintage with something much more focused on tension, a certain skitti- shness leading to tighter wines." - Vincent BACHE-GABRIELSENGeneral Director CHÂTEAU PÉDESCLAUX
General Director CHÂTEAU TALBOT
***
"If we say a few words about the 2021 vintage, it was a complex, demanding year...we’re looking at a much more classic vintage with something much more focused on tension, a certain skitti- shness leading to tighter wines." - Vincent BACHE-GABRIELSENGeneral Director CHÂTEAU PÉDESCLAUX
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