Château Montrose, Montrose, Bordeaux, AOC, dry, red

Marked by contrasting weather conditions, 2021 is proof, yet again, of the importance of the quality of our terroir and its incredible ability to mitigate the excesses of “Mother Nature”. This vintage required all the experience, energy and vigilance of the estate’s teams. A mild and dry start to the growing season was followed by a rainy and cool spring, which caused mildew to develop from the month of May. Pressure on the vineyard from disease was high, but efficiently contained within the framework of our environmental approach. A pleasant improvement in the weather at the beginning of June (5th to 10th June) provided good conditions for swift and successful flowering. The cool and dry summer reduced pressure from disease but caused a slight delay in veraison, which was slow and uneven. In September, there was a welcome rise in temperatures and plenty of sun, which helped our four grapes varieties to reach full ripeness. This year, it was complicated to acquire a clear understanding of the vintage from tasting the berries. The intra-plot specificities were not as explicit as usual and the teams’ experience and extensive knowledge of our terroir were called for more than ever before; when it came to harvesting and pre-blending the plots, collective memory was crucial to every decision. Even though the bunches were smaller, the quality of the grapes was undeniable. Despite the weather conditions, all four grape varieties have been included in our Grand Vin, and that is always the hallmark of a successful vintage at Château Montrose.