Baronarques Rouge - Haute Vallée de l'Aude 2023

After a mild and relatively dry winter, especially in February, the vine growth cycle started early. Flowering started in late May for the Chardonnay and early June for the Cabernet Sauvignon in almost tropical conditions, as 180mm aggregate rainfall over the two months was compounded by very warm weather, especially in June. These conditions spurred the spread of mildew, causing some crop loss, mainly of Merlot grapes. A north-west wind then settled in, halting the spread of mildew and keeping the crop healthy until harvest. The weather in July and early August was somewhat cooler, so that veraison occurred rather later and lasted longer than usual. Temperatures subsequently rose above 43° C in the shade over a four-day period during a heatwave from 17 to 24 August. However, water reserves in the soil ensured that the vines got enough water, avoiding the kind of adverse hydric stress that can halt the maturing process. Hot weather and low rainfall in September made for small grapes, reducing yields for red grape varieties.