With a start date for harvesting on October 1st 2008, this year is to be written down in our books as the latest decades at Pierre Bourotte’s vineyards. The delay that was noted during flowering aggravated during the season. Two months were the key in the success of this vintage : - July with a high water deficit for the vine thus stress; which resulted in a very good poly-phenolic richness at the time of change of colour.             - September which was great, especially the three last weeks, enabled a maturation of these poly-phenols while favouring a good balance sugar/acidity Weather conditions and Vine Cycle

On average in 2008, the monthly temperatures and rainfalls are close to the average of the last thirty years in Libourne. However, every month was uneven, with sometimes in the same week, alternances of heavy rains and drought but also cold and heat waves.

  In March and April, the average temperatures and rainfalls were close to the average of the last thirty years. While the budburst was going well on April 6th and 7th, heavy frosts spoilt some buds and slowed down the growth of the vine. May was one of the worst of the season with strong storms, weak sunshine and mild temperatures. It was during this month that watchfulness in the vineyards was paramount. The mildew, rot that develops on the leaves and bunches was vicious.  Appropriate treatments allowed avoiding the arrival of diseases prejudicial to the quality and the quantity of the harvest.  In June, in the second fortnight, the weather conditions became more favourable to the vines. Flowering which had started beginning of the month stretched over nearly 15 days. In comparison to the other vintages, we can say that the flowering was rather late. The counting of the bunches and berries at this stage enabled us to notice a rather weak load of the stocks, then heralding a small crop. “Coulure” and “millerandage” on some parcels have also limited the quantity. July was particularly dry with summer temperatures and largely great sunshine. This month was critical in the success of this vintage as it allowed the return to excellent sanitary conditions and contributed to limit the growth of the vine before the change of colour. 

The change of colour began late, end of July. The half change of colour was noted on the early parcels of Pomerol between August 5th and 10th.Despite normal temperatures for the season, August had a slight deficit of sunshine and rainfalls superior to the average of the last thirty years. Deleafing works started at the time of change of colour. The load being small, we undertook a rigorous selection of the grapes, assuring a goof aeration to avoid clusters. During this rather gloomy month, the maturation of the grapes were rather slow, hence a noticeable delay. The harvest started at Château Bonalgue on the young vines and the Cantereau parcel on October 1st 2009. Harvests and potential of the grapesThe anticyclonal conditions arrived on the second week of September. The grapes have then gained technological, phenolic and aromatic maturity but it was later than normally.At the time of harvesting, the grapes, in small quantity, were savory, crispy, fruity and vivid.The berries were beautiful with thick skins, rich in colour and tannins.The sorting out of the crop was facilitated with loose and healthy bunches. The winesThe wines, after alcoholic fermentation, are characterized by:•        Rather high natural alcohol contents between 13 and 14% depending on the terroirs•        Acidities revealing a good balance and good maturity•        A great colour, sign of a good work of the vine during the summer•        A superb aromatic complexity of fresh red and black fruits•        Tannins which appear fine, round and mellow 

To conclude, weather conditions in phase with the vine cycle have allowed the success of the vintage 2008.  •        The delay in the vine cycle accumulated before the flowering strengthened during the summer. The vintage 2008 is a late one.•        Thanks to the late vine cycle, the bad spring weather conditions did not have any impact on the quality of the grapes. The change of colour and maturity took place under very good conditions.•        The hydric process of the vintage 2008 at the time of change of colour, which determined the richness of the berries, is comparable to that of the vintage 2000 between June 25th and August 9th, and to that of the vintage 2001 for the rest of August.•        The naturally low yield favoured a good concentration in the wine during the winemaking.•        After the vinifications, we taste dense and fleshy wines with elegant and powerful tannins Even if the weather conditions in April and May were bad, the quality of a vintage is not entirely determined by the spring weather conditions, particularly when the vintage is late. 

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