Dourthe: 'patience and hard work critical' in 2012

Published: 11 October, 2012

The year 2012 for Dourthe has been one of "hard work" in the vineyards, according to Patrick Jestin, chief executive officer of Vins et Vignobles Dourthe.

The red harvest began at its Bordeaux properties this week at châteaux Reysson (Haut-Médoc), La Garde (Pessac Léognan), Belgrave (Cru Classé Haut-Médoc), Le Boscq (St Estèphe), Grand Barrail Lamarzelle Figeac (St Emilion Grand Cru) and Pey La Tour (Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur).

Jestin, said: "We've had to work extremely hard in the vineyards this year to maintain quality and remove irregular grapes so that only the finest fruit can flourish. We now have the potential to make high-quality wines, which was unthinkable at the beginning of August."

He added: "Let's hope the weather, which has been dull for a couple of days, continues to be favorable.

Head winemaker Frédéric Bonnafous said the concentration of colour is "quite phenomenal" and acidity levels good. He added the three days of rain towards the end of September were "like manna from heaven" for its vines, which were beginning to parch. "This timely miracle accelerated ripening so that we could start picking in earnest on Monday this week," he said.

Bonnafous said the tank of very young Merlots, harvested at the end of September at La Garde in Pessac-Léognan, is very "aromatic" and offers optimism for the rest of the harvest.

Jestin said: "Patience and hard work were critical this year. Although most of the grapes were late ripening, rigorous standards in the vineyards and removal of irregular grapes have helped the fruit to flourish and ensure the vines were in a healthy state at the start of the harvest. However, with the recent warm, humid weather we remain vigilant and ready to react quickly if required."

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