Louis Latour Agencies

Maison Louis Latour 2022 Vintage Report

30 November 2023

After a cool, dry winter, the last few days of March saw a clear upturn in temperature (+1.5°C over the month), followed by an episode of frost in early April (four nights between April 2 and 10). The vines were less advanced than at the same time in 2021. We delayed pruning to protect the vines, but we were still worried. The candles were put in place and the teams mobilized. Fortunately, we didn’t record any significant damage. The vines were less sensitive, which validates the pruning efforts made.

 

Vegetative cycle - 2022 : Budburst: 11th April Flowering: 22nd May Veraison: 24th July Harvest: 26th August

The fine weather then set in on the Côte d’Or, and the vines began to grow at a frenetic pace. Bud-break on April 11 was only five days ahead of average, but flowering took place in perfect conditions - around May 22, 17 days ahead of schedule! It must be said that May was

3.1 degrees warmer than the ten-year average. However, the weather remained very dry, and we grew concerned. The period from November 2021 to the end of May 2022 saw a shortage of 120mm in precipitation, almost a third of the usual accumulation.

 

Climate Overview - 2022 : Cool and dry winter Mild in March Episode of frost at the beginning of April End of April and May - dry and sunny Heavy rain in early June Extremely sunny June, July, and August (41 days above 30°C) Harvest began on August 26

The beginning of June was finally rainy (37mm from the 2nd to the 8th), which relieved the vineyard but was still insufficient. Bud closure took place around June 21 after one week at over 30°C. Fortunately, 95mm of rain fell in 10 days, making up for the previous shortfall. This gave the vines the ideal conditions to continue growing to produce a fine harvest. Winegrowers work hard in “tropical” conditions to manage the vineyard and protect it from mildew! This rainfall put a smile on our faces. After a year of rest, forced by the frost of 2021, optimal climatic conditions fuelled hopes of filling the berries for a fine harvest!

However, after an initial heatwave in June, the days above 30°C continued to accumulate. In the end, 41 days over 30°C were recorded during the summer, with a rainfall deficit of 80

 

mm in July and August. Doubts once again grew that our fine harvest would evaporate, and we prepared to harvest in the second half of August (mid-veraison being July 24).

And yet, despite the hot weather, the vineyards held up remarkably well. The water in June enabled the vines to get through these periods without excessive growth, but without drawing water from its berries either. From here, the vine comes to a standstill, closes its stomata (pores on the surface of the leaves that allow gaseous exchanges between the vine and the atmosphere) to conserve water, and lets these temperatures pass. This halt in vegetation delayed ripening by a few days (only 0.5 to 1 degree of potential alcohol between August 8 and 19, in comparison to at least 2 degrees at this time of year). The harvest began on August 26. Ripeness was reached 104 days after flowering, an exceptionally long time, but one that can be explained by the pause in berry development.

The harvest was long – well over 14 days – but smiles were on everyone’s faces. The grapes were magnificent, sorting was minimal, and volumes were back to normal. The first week was devoted to Corton-Charlemagne, the hills of Montrachet and Corton. The teams then went on to harvest the Côte de Nuits as well as the premier crus and villages of Aloxe-Corton. The balance of the fruit is beautiful, preserved by the cessation of vegetation, with bright colours and silky tannins. The rain in June gave us juicy, fruity wines with good concentration but not excess!

 

Christophe DEOLA

Director of Domaine Louis Latour