This may be the first Bordeaux vintage for Treasury Wine Estates, the new owner of Château Cambon la Pelouse, but they already have substantial experience in Australian, New Zealand, American and Italian vineyards.
Winter came with relatively mild temperatures. February broke 20-year-old records with temperatures 6.3% higher than the average maximum. March was also quite clement resulting in early budburst, which took place five to six days before usual.
A rather cool and wet period in May and at the beginning of June caused vine growth to be quite slow. Despite these slightly fickle weather conditions, the vines were perfectly disease-free and flowering intervened during a fine weekend.
With the first day of summer came a distinct change in the weather bringing proper summer warmth and a new kick-start to vine growth. The middle of summer was hot with heatwaves at the end of June and in late July, when growth slowed down, concentrating the flow of sap into the fruit. Hydric stress in August in relation with our gravel soils triggered grape ripening early.
The lovely summer gave us good alcohol content, rich phenolic expression and quality tannins. All this gives the wine lovely balance, because it is fresh despite being a hot vintage.
The harvest drew to a close on 11th October with a very positive result. The must in the tanks was rich and very aromatic. Alcohol content was high, but comparable to the great Bordeaux years of 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015 and 2018, which is so encouraging for the Australian group’s first vintage.