2026 Bordeaux:
the first chapters of a brand-new Vintage
Early, intense and marked by a hot, dry summer, the 2026 vintage shook up practices in the Bordeaux vineyards. From grape ripeness to sweetness and balance, this vintage is already fulfilling all its promises and is showing a great deal of character, but we still need to wait a bit longer to discover all its richness… To find out more, our teams went to meet the people who make the wines in Sauternes, Saint-Emilion and Margaux. They also asked oenologist Thomas Duclos for his thoughts.
There is nothing to say about the ripeness of the grapes, which reached optimum maturity. The sugar and alcohol levels are generally higher than in 2025. Before malolactic fermentation, the wines are already full-bodied, well-balanced and display very good tension. What is remarkable about this Vintage is its intense aromas, which have rarely been observed before.
À l’aube du nouveau Millésime #1
White Grape Harvest – Château Carbonnieux, Pessac-Léognan
At daybreak, the teams at Château Carbonnieux open the cellars and head out to the vineyards. The first snips of the secateurs mark the start of a new adventure.
À l’aube du nouveau Millésime #2
Red Grape Harvest – Château Giscours, Margaux
At Château Giscours, the morning silence gives way to the hustle and bustle of the harvest: pruning shears, crates, chatter and smiles accompany the first grapes of the 2026 Vintage.
À l’aube du nouveau Millésime #3
Sweet Wines Harvest – Château La Tour Blanche, Sauternes
At Château La Tour Blanche, the harvest continues at a meticulous pace: each bunch of grapes is carefully selected to bring out the richness and concentration of Sauternes’ sweet wines.
