A vintage does not suddenly come into being at harvest; it is the result of many years of passion and pursuit. The 2017 vintage, like many previous years, is a magnificent expression of Cos d’Estournel’s inimitable terroir, brought to the fullest thanks to the dedication of our teams throughout the seasons. Presented en primeur in April, the 2017 vintage was characterized by early development in the vineyard and a series of alternating weather conditions.
During the winter season, Cos d’Estournel saw nearly 40% less rainfall than average, which meant our soils were not fully recharged with water. This was especially true for our clay slopes, with their great capacity for stocking water; they began the growing season drier than usual, a highly rare phenomenon.
Winter began with low temperatures that rose as early as February. Throughout the vineyard, the first buds began appearing in a homogenous fashion in late March, five or six days early. Bud break was not the only major event to occur ahead of schedule: precociousness would remain a hallmark of the vintage all the way through harvest.
Late April, a terrible cold spell fell upon the region, causing great havoc. At Cos d’Estournel we were spared from frost thanks to the protective effect of the nearby Gironde Estuary. Our hearts go out to the many winegrowers who were not as fortunate.
Throughout spring, the vintage continued to develop earlier than usual, with wonderfully rapid and homogenous flowering at the end of May. Long, sunny days and warm temperatures created ideal growing conditions. And despite fears brought on by signs of water stress due to unusually high temperatures in June, our teams exercised caution, resisting the temptation to engage in overly interventionist tactics. Nature proved us right when rainfall restimulated growth in late June. The early heat of the summer, combined with the unusual water deficit experienced by our clay soils, resulted in exceptional Merlot.
The dry, cool weather of summer, combined with the constant attention paid to our soils over the past several years, allowed us to maintain fruity aromas and the essential balance between sweetness and acidity. The vineyard reached mid-veraison in early August, once again ahead of schedule, with the changing colors of the grapes launching the countdown to harvest.
Late summer, water stress was a positive sign that rainfall had been absorbed by the estate’s soils, which would favor the development of tannins. But vigilance remained key, as our teams continued to carefully monitor the balance between acidity and potential alcohol levels. Cool, damp weather in the first two weeks of September allowed skins to mature rapidly, falling in step with the ripening aromas. Harvest began on September 12 with our Merlot planted on gravel, followed by our Merlot planted on clay, before concluding with our Cabernet on September 30.
Throughout the year, the vineyard experienced extreme variations of weather conditions, which, rather than jeopardizing the vintage, allowed it to develop progressively. Distinct and decisive, each phase contributed to creating ideal maturity and wonderful balance between tannins and fruit and acidity and potential alcohol levels.
More than ever before, the expertise and dedication of our teams were primordial in allowing them to select the most measured, adapted techniques to cultivate our vines and bring them to fruition under optimal conditions. Following the harvest, the estate’s gravitational cellar made it possible for the fruity aromas, freshness and texture of the wines to fully reveal themselves, resulting in a 2017 vintage that is at once finely balanced, profound and delicate.
