Bordeaux 2011: Summer & Autumn
Although the high ‘average warmth’ of the year stems from higher than usual temperatures in spring and autumn, the record breaking figure did receive something of a helping hand from a minor heatwave in late June. The month on the whole was warm, but nothing as remarkable as May or April, at least not until June 26th and 27th when thermometers all around Bordeaux nudged 40ºC. The vines in Bordeaux are definitely not used to such temperatures, and exposed fruit was literally ‘burnt’ on the vine. The Cabernet Sauvignons on well-drained soils were worst affected, some vines losing 20% of the crop, either immediately or when the damaged berries were culled as they failed to ripen come véraison.
With summer just around the corner there was some concern whether the véraison would progress smoothly; with warmer weather expected in July and low water reserves underground it was very reasonable to expect that hydric stress might retard the ripening of the fruit. Once again, however, Mother Nature delivered something very unexpected. Although July kicked off with high temperatures they soon fell back. The clouds rolled in and temperatures went from being considerably above the expected to somewhat cooler than normal. In addition, there was more than a little rain. In most cases though the vines could proceed to ripen the fruit (perhaps aided by the free supply of water), and it was only the burnt grapes that caused any difficulties in this respect, as described above. In August the temperatures picked up a little, and the month was warm, but the rain was prodigious, above average for the month, and way ahead of what the month brought in other, more highly regarded vintages such as 2010, 2009 and 2005.
