Castle Les Carmes Haut-Brion - Pessac-Léognan 2008

Castle Les Carmes Haut-Brion - Pessac-Léognan 2008

Especially abundant precipitation until the end of June has resulted in exceptional downy mildew pressure. Even if the spring conditions were difficult, the quality of a vintage is not mainly conditioned by the spring weather, especially when the vintage is late. The frequency of summer precipitation was lower than in 2007 (22 days rainfall between 1 July and 31 August in 2008 compared to 32 in 2007) comparable to the average of the last 9 vintages. Cumulatively, summer 2008 is less watered than average, in spite of the August storms, only 2000,2003 and 2005 show a cumulative summer precipitation of less than 2008. The month of July therefore made it possible to believe Again with a record water deficit and hopes of a new vintage 2000 were current until 9 August. It was without counting on the traditional storms of mid-August that accelerated the veraison but made inflate the berries. Early September the well-balanced vines show record phenolic indices whereas the sugars are rather moderate and the acidity still high, especially the malic acids. The 2008 water cycle since the cluster closed enabled a very important phenolic synthesis to be verified today. The favorable weather conditions of the months of September and October have given rise to wines both structured and balanced with a great aromatic richness such as lovers of great Bordeaux. Despite a real qualitative potential, 2008 is the antipodes of a vintage "chaise longue" and this year again, interventionist. The property has emphasized the quality and the pace of work in green (thinning, thinning, thinning). Again this year our small size allowed the property to intervene quickly and efficiently at the right time.