Month in wine
Bordeaux optimistic after erratic 2019
The Bordeaux 2019 harvest has been excellent so far, but the rest of the conditions are terrible,’ said Florence Cathiard, of Château Smith Haut Lafitte in Pessac-Léognan, conveying the region’s mood of cautious optimism after a year of contrasts.
Winter was warmer than average, which meant an early budburst, followed by a cold spell from mid-April through May, before temperatures rose again in June.
Summer saw several heatwaves, with temperatures reaching over 40°C in Mérignac, and drought conditions extended véraison (colour-change) until the end of August.
Rainfall was 21% lower
