Harvest Decisions: The Most Important Week of the Year for Us.

All year, our vines grow quietly.

From Winter pruning, to Spring budburst, to Summer sun. We wait and maintain patiently through months of slow development.

Then, everything comes down to a few days. At Château Canon Chaigneau, harvest is not simply a date on the calendar. It is a decision that is sometimes made under pressure, and defines the entire vintage.

Right before Harvest

As September approaches in Lalande-de-Pomerol, our vineyard becomes a place of constant observation.

Grapes are tasted daily, berries are cut open, seeds are examined, skins are chewed to test tannin ripeness – safe to say, it is a very busy period which requires much focus! 

Fruit sugar levels may already be high, but sweetness alone is not enough. There are many more questions we have to ask ourselves, such as:

• Are the tannins still firm?
  
  

• Is the acidity still vibrant?
  
  

• Will waiting bring more depth — or risk losing freshness?
  
  

Every extra day can improve balance, but every extra day can also bring unexpected rain. Waiting it out sometimes feels like a gamble.

Weather: An Uncontrollable Factor

In Lalande-de-Pomerol, Merlot ripens earlier than many Bordeaux varieties. It can change very quickly in warm weather. A sudden heat spike can accelerate ripening, while a forecast of rain can dilute flavours or threaten the health of the fruit.

Our team must constantly weigh risk against reward:

• Should we pick now and preserve freshness?
  
  

• Should we wait longer for softer tannins?
  
  

• Should we harvest certain plots first and others later?
  
  

There is no single correct answer, only careful judgment.

Parcel by Parcel, Not All at Once

At Château Canon Chaigneau, harvest does not happen in one sweeping motion.

Different parcels ripen at different speeds. Soil type, sun exposure, and vine age all influence development. 

The clay soils typical of the appellation retain water, helping vines through dry spells, but this also affects how quickly grapes reach full maturity.

Instead of harvesting everything together, decisions are made plot by plot. It is a choreography of timing.

The Decision in the Glass

Months later, when the wine is poured, the harvest choice reveals itself.

It boils down to the smoothness of the tannins, the brightness of the fruit and the balance between richness and freshness. These qualities are shaped not just by terroir or winemaking technique, but by the moment the grapes were picked!

Each vintage of Château Canon Chaigneau carries that year’s weather, patience, and judgment. Harvest is brief, but its impact lasts for years!