Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron 2017

2017 was characterised by a dry early winter followed by a rainy February, a very mild spring, a frosty period on 27th and 28th April and a warm, dry summer. Our estates were protected from the frost on the whole. Only a few plots were affected, representing 15% of the total surface area.
Bud break, which started between 25th to 30th March, was steady and consistent. The first flowers could be seen in mid-May on the earliest plots. Early ripening, observed at the end of July, was remarkably consistent.
The moderate summer temperatures limited the risk of water stress and preserved acidity. Finally, fairly dry weather in August helped the grapes to mature.
Cool, damp conditions in the first two weeks of September changed the year's character. The skins started to develop faster, requiring vigilance in monitoring progress of maturity. Close observation of the plots was key to determining the 2017 harvest date.
The earliest plots of Merlot reached maturity, with good phenolic ripeness, in mid-September. The Cabernet-Sauvignon were close to the Merlot and could be harvested immediately afterwards without risk.