Harvest Chronicles at Château Latour - Pauillac

Weather and phenological conditions at  Château Latour - Pauillac
2005 Vintage reports
After a year marked by heavy drought, the 2005 shows at Chateau Latour, signs of a really promising vintage. This has been confirmed by the very first controls on maturity carried out since early September, and applies for both the Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignons with sugar and polyphenolic levels that have rarely been reached in the past. 

The dry weather at Chateau Latour settled early this year, after very little rain in winter. These extreme weather conditions have remained unchanged up until the harvests. The day before the harvests at Chateau Latour, we noted that there was a water deficit of nearly 350mm and that as a result of the changing climate witnessed over the last three years, the vines have had to adapt in consequence. Surprisingly, the water shortage that affected the vineyards in 2003 was not as apparent this year (except for sandier soils). This was probably due to the vine’s root development within the deepest layers of the subsoil. 

As from spring, we had ideal weather conditions at Chateau Latour, that perfectly helped branch growth and flowering, which occurred this year from May 26 to June 7: rapid and complete. At Chateau Latour, the deficiency in rainfall continued the following months and despite the ideal conditions for development in June, the vine’s vegetative growth halted from the beginning of July. 

Owing to these exceptional conditions, there was very little vine disease and pests this year, so protection against the main diseases and pests was limited at Chateau Latour.

Once,  at  Chateau Latour, we had made the first estimations on the potential yield, we could notice high bunch development with a great quantity of berries. Throughout summer at Chateau Latour, our efforts were focused on the works in the vineyard, reducing the number of clusters per vine plant and thinning out the excess leaves around the grapes. Consequently, the grapes could ripen within a micro-climate, favouring aromatic expression and chemical balance. 

At Chateau Latour, since the beginning of September, when we first tasted the berries, we are lead to strongly believe in an excellent crop potential. The fruit is truly present with extraordinary sugar levels for the Merlots (between 13.5° and 14.2°) and already very high for the Cabernet Sauvignons (between 11.8° and 13°). The tannins contained in the skins are particularly dense, and if the fine weather continues during the harvests, we consider that this Chateau Latour vintage will be one with excellent ageing potential. 

On Friday September 16, at Chateau Latour, we started to pick the best Merlots of the “Enclos” to preserve the freshness and the fruit obtained by this vintage. As usual, the Cabernet Sauvignons will ripen later, and we may to wait a few extra days. However, as from the beginning of October the harvests will be at their peak in the vines and in our cellars. At Chateau Latour, as we are waiting to finally taste the first vats, we hope to discover the same qualities as 1989, 1990 or even 1949… 

Frédéric Engerer at Chateau Latour

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