The beginning of harvests in the Bordeaux' region

The starting of harvests was launched today in the region of Bordeaux. A one hectare parcel of Château Haut-Brion at Pessac, a classified first growth of Graves was harvested today by 44 people. “White blends are always earlier-fruiting but this year, because of drought, the vine suffered from an hydric shock which provoked a more rapid ripening of grapes”, explained Pascal Baratie, Chateau Haut-Brion' wine-maker. The 2003's record, marked by the heat-wave, when the harvests began on August 12th at Château l'Hospital, located in the Graves too, remains nevertheless unbeaten. Last year, the first cuts were made on September 6th. If the Château Haut-Brion, which is part of a 83 hectares domain and classified Grand Cru since 1855 starts each year a bit earlier, it is “because of an hotter micro-climate as we are enclosed into the urban community of Bordeaux ”, evaluates its wine-maker.

2005, August 24 - © RTL

Other information :
• Graves
• Pessac-Léognan
• Bordeaux
• Château Haut-Brion