Carmes de Rieussec

The autumn-winter of 2019-2020 was one of the warmest for the last ten years in Bordeaux, resulting in an early bud break around 20 March. There was frequent rain from April to June, requiring us to take measures against a significant threat of downy mildew. The vines stayed ahead of their usual growth cycle, flowering around 19 May. There was then a fairly abrupt transition with 55 days without rain over the summer months. Véraison (colour change) started around 25 July. We detected quite severe water stress in some parts of our superb gravel terraces. The soil on the hillsides and at the base of the slopes, and the limestone marl soil fared much better in the hot, dry weather. For the sweet wines, it was quite a challenge to find botrytized bunches. The sun-drenched grapes did not offer ideal conditions for botrytis and, after waiting until 21 October, it was our Sémillon from the plots around the château that offered the best quality this year and which formed the heart of Château Rieussec.