1980

MT 15.2°C / Sun: 1422 hrs / Rain: 636 mm
Harvesting period: 16 to 30 October

This was one of the latest harvests ever, after 1932 and 1956. The weather was cold from March to July and heavy rain fell in June. The unfavourable weather therefore slowed down the growth cycle. But the small crop and the fine days of late summer (August, but especially September) made for ripe and suitably healthy grapes.

The wines were light both in colour and tannins, and often highly aromatic. They were a most enjoyable drink, for those who could obtain them.

1981

MT: 16.5°C / Sun: 1484 hrs / Rain: 528 mm
Harvesting period: 1 to 16 October

There was less rain than usual from January to August. The few rainy days in September helped the grapes develop. With average sunshine, the hot temperatures – particularly in August – ripened the grapes nicely.

The grapes were healthy, with thick skins that provided a good quantity of tannins. The wines were therefore full bodied, but well balanced. Quite austere at first, they have evolved beautifully over the years and are now classic Saint-Emilions.

1982

MT16.4°C / Sun:1598 hrs / Rain:649 mm
Harvesting period:17 September to 2 October

On the weather front, there were no extremes to hinder the vines, and warm periods alternated with rain in a fairly regular fashion. August brought slightly less sunshine than usual, but September was magnificent, producing perfectly ripe yet healthy grapes in fair abundance.

These remarkably well balanced wines, rich in ripe tannins, are all superb harmony, often with fairly intense, very complex aromas. The memory of the scents of red fruits during fermentation will linger with us for a long time – it was like being in the kitchen while grandma made jam…

MT: mean temperature from March to September
Sun: sunshine hours from March to September
Rain: rainfall in mm from January to September

1983

MT 16.5°C / Sun:1446 hrs / Rain:667 mm
Harvesting period:30 September to 14 October

After heavy rain in February, but especially in April and May, good hot weather from June to August brought ripening back on schedule. The grape composition at that point was only just suitable. But from 20 September until the end of harvesting, hot, dry weather tipped the scale for this vintage over onto the "good" side.

This unexpected end to the growing season really concentrated the grapes, though some were a little overripe. Once again, we obtained wines with a high alcohol content, rich in ripe tannins and eminently powerful. Particularly successful were the wines that came from vines on limestone soils. On the limestone plateau, the vines had the resources to prevent excessive ripening. They were fresh-tasting and well balanced, soft and velvety.

1984

MT 15.4°C / Sun:1680 hrs / Rain:796 mm
Harvesting period:5 to 16 October

The very irregular climate of 1984 seriously disturbed the vine growth cycle. But it is May and the first week in June that stick in the mind of the growers. Heavy rain (150 mm) and low temperatures disrupted flowering, part of the crop failed and many grapes were undersized.

Our rising hopes in June, July and August were dashed – the very small crop was not helped by a cold, rainy September. We have tried to forget it…

1985

MT 15.8°C / Sun:1554 hrs / Rain:637 mm
Harvesting period:30 September to 13 October

After a rainy period from February to May that did not hamper flowering, the dry heat that lasted from July to September more than made up for the shortfall. September was a particularly fine month, bringing healthy grapes to a fine state of ripeness. Grape composition heralded a very good wine.

This was confirmed later on, the Merlots being exceptionally successful on the "stronger" soils. The tannic, well balanced and harmonious wines are classic representatives of Saint-Emilion.

1986

MT 15.5°C / Sun:1474 hrs / Rain:716 mm
Harvesting period:2 to 20 October

The rains of January, February and especially April (150 mm) built up good reserves of water, but the low spring temperatures delayed budburst. From then on, the globally good weather conditions were favourable to ripening.

After some rain in late September, the fine weather arrived on 26 September and stayed around throughout the harvesting period.

This is an irregular vintage owing to differences in yields. Less concentrated that the 1985s, these wines are evolving fairly rapidly, with lots of charm and a few great successes, whereas some wines are light, sometimes watery, but have no serious defects, since the grapes were healthy and ripe.

1987

MT 16.5°C / Sun:1413 hrs / Rain:511 mm
Harvesting period:2 to 19 October

The vintage of contrasts – the driest of the decade! But late September was the wettest ever, following a wonderful August that got our hopes up for another great vintage. The first three weeks of September were very hot and, of course, ripened the grapes nicely, but the rain during picking diluted their remarkable potential.

Therefore, particularly with the Merlots, we obtained tender, charming, fast-developing wines. They have all the character of ripe grapes, pleasant, light, unpretentious… A wine to enjoy.