Bordeaux 2013: A Cabernet Vintage

(TDB) - Vintage conditions in Bordeaux this year have favoured white wines and the Cabernet grape according to Alain Crohem, development director at CA Grands Crus, a group of wine estates owned by Crédit Agricole.

During a discussion on Thursday evening with the drinks business about this year’s harvest in Bordeaux, Crohem described the whites as “beautiful” and stated that they “are better than the reds in 2013”, although he later expressed his high hopes for Cabernet Sauvignon.

This year’s harvest in Bordeaux started unusually late due to a cool, wet and windy spring, which delayed the onset of flowering for almost three weeks.

Vignerons then had to contend with uneven flowering (particularly for the Merlot) and poor fruit set, as well as hailstorms in August, which together have reduced yields significantly.

Furthermore, a bout of wet and warm conditions during late September saw the rapid spread of rot in Bordeaux’s early ripening and thin-skinned Merlot, requiring estates to bring in the grapes quickly, before sorting carefully.

However, the later ripening and tougher Cabernet Sauvignon has faired better.

Speaking of last week’s conditions in left bank Bordeaux, Croheme said “We thought we should harvest the Cabernet at the beginning of the week, but there was a lot of sun during the day, even though it was cold during the night, so we waited, and it has been very interesting for the Cabernet… the last five days have been very important for the Cabernet.”

Summing up he added, “2013 will be a Cabernet vintage, whereas 2011 and 2012 were more a Merlot vintage.”

He also recorded that “the Cabernet is fantastic” at CA Grands Crus’ Château Meyney in the Médoc, although he noted that the Merlot yields at this property are down 20% due to rot and coulure.