Le Clarence de Haut-Brion

The beginning of winter 2021 is rainy and enables water reserves in the soils to be replenished. From February, temperatures rise above seasonal averages and bring about an early start to the vine’s growth cycle. The first part of the month of April is marked by an incidence of frost, more widespread, but less severe than the one in the previous year. For the vines of Haut-Brion, the impact is minimal. In May, temperatures are warm and the vine’s growth continues. Conditions are good while flowering takes place and the water deficit is counterbalanced by rainfall in June. Three significant heat waves, at the end of June, in July and in August, mark the summer, com bined with an almost total lack of rain. However, despite the weather extremes during the summer, the grapes still reached optimal ripeness in early August, aided by a few timely rain showers that helped to complete the process. Harvests of white grapes begin in the sunshine, on August 17th, making this the second earliest harvest, after 2003. To protect the aroma precursors of the white grape varieties, harvests start early in the morning and the grapes are cooled down when they arrive at the vat house. The teams are doubled to gather the grapes more quickly (in one week, rather than the usual two) in order to pick them at their optimum. The Sauvignons are aromatic and the Sémillons especially delicate and elegant. The health and ripeness of the grapes collected are impeccable, with only a few berries needing to be sorted out. The harvest of red grapes begins on August 29th with the young vines, then the Merlots, in conditions that remain ideal. The range of aromas, flavours, as well as the analysis are superb and promise a magnificent vintage. These harvests remind us once again that we should not doubt the vine’s resilience, even during a year when conditions are extreme.