1990 Chateau Gruaud-Larose

AREA UNDER VINES: 82 ha/203 acres SOIL: Garonne gravel from the first quaternary, settled more than 600 000 years ago AVERAGE AGE OF STOCKS: 46 years old Integrated Pest Control (mechanical work, organic fertilisation), Weather Station (phytosanitary protection), Prophylaxis (thinning out the leaves, removal of excess buds and shoots, green harvest). Heightening of the trellis. Manual harvesting, selection on a belt in the vineyard and double sorting at the harvest reception. 100% of the surface is managed according to the principles of Organic and Biodynamic Agriculture.

Very precocious maturity, exceptional richness in sugar and great concentration of phenolic compounds. The reason for the 1990 precocity is to be found in the highly favourable climatic conditions, from the beginning of the year till end of October. An exceptionally mild winter, with an extremely hot February=>very precocious bud-burst, spread over a period of time). End of March and most of April cold with episodes of frost (a second generation of clusters saw the light of day). Warm May, sunny and somewhat humid. June and beginning of July dry and moderately hot. But end of July+August very hot, much sunshine and very little rain. Extremely heterogeneous veraison . September hot and very sunny, slightly rainy=>excellent maturation of all grapes. The crop was perfectly healthy.

Harvest reception: Weighing of the crop. Plot selection in the tank (grape variety, terroir, age…) Tanks: 100% cement Alcoholic fermentation: Yeast addition Fermentation temperatures: 31°C -33°C