sustainable, organic and biodynamic viticulture have played a big part in keeping vineyards healthy. At Château Cheval Blanc, the extraordinary work spent building a resilient ecosystem appears to have paid off: the vineyards are spectacular and alive. Three thousand trees have been planted between the vines to promote biodiversity and fertility. Although agroforestry in vineyards is still specialised and rare, many of Bordeaux’s top Chateaux have introduced similar initiatives to promote biodiversity, soil health and resilience. Château Haut-Bailly, Château Pontet-Canet, Château Palmer, Château Latour and many others have shown leadership in building a long-term sustainable future. All of these initiatives also lead to less soil compaction, fewer pass-throughs, more biomass and improved natural balance. Although anxieties were heightened with the long absence of decent rain, the hot dry weather conditions and a lack of disease pressure in August and before allowed the grapes to ripen very well, with tannins reaching full phenological maturity by the end of the month. This was helped by light rainfall in late August, which cooled the air rather than rehydrating the soils. But some vineyards, mostly with newer plots, were unable to cope with the stress. Younger vines on gravelly soils with undeveloped root systems struggled or died, but by and large, most
Bordeaux 2022
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