Harvest almost done for 2026

As the 2026 harvest draws to a close at Laurent Miquel, we can begin to reflect on what has been an unusually early and intense vintage. Harvest began at Château Cazal Viel on 5 August, with the first grapes coming in much earlier than usual. By mid-August, when Laurent shared his latest update from the vineyards, almost a third of the crop had already been harvested.

The early start was not unexpected - we had zero rainfall from 06 May to the third week of August - something which had never happened before. Luckily, we had good rainfall over the winter and the growing season progressed quickly, with warm and increasingly dry conditions bringing the vines forward. Sugar levels rose rapidly in the grapes, meaning that careful monitoring and precise decisions in the vineyards were essential. By mid-August, the Viognier was already being picked, several days earlier than would normally be expected. The team worked quickly to capture the grapes at the right moment, protecting their freshness and aromatic character.

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A challenging season

The summer brought intense heat and a prolonged period without significant rainfall. This created pressure for the vines, particularly as temperatures increased and ripening sped up. However, the vines responded well, and the results of early tests were encouraging with good levels of acidity alongside healthy sugar and phenolic ripeness.

As always, night harvesting played an important role. Picking during the cooler hours helps to protect the natural aromas and acidity of the grapes, while allowing the team to bring the fruit into the winery in the best possible condition. This approach has been part of the Laurent Miquel philosophy for many years, and in increasingly warm conditions it has become more important than ever, with more and more producers adopting this approach.

Now, in early October, the vast majority of the harvest has been completed. There are just a few later-ripening plots still to finish, but the main work in the vineyards is almost done. The focus now turns increasingly to the winery, where the grapes are fermenting and the first impressions of the vintage will gradually begin to emerge. It is still too early to draw firm conclusions about the finished wines. Each plot, grape variety and parcel has its own story, and the wines will continue to develop over the coming weeks and months. Happily, the early signs leave us optimistic. Despite the heat and the speed of the season, the grapes have shown freshness, good balance and plenty of fruit character.

Looking ahead

Harvest is always a moment to reflect on the year that has passed. From the first signs of growth in spring to the long nights of picking in August and September, it is the culmination of months of work by our vineyard and winery teams. Vintage 2026 has once again reminded us that no two growing seasons are the same. The ability to adapt, to observe the vines closely and to pick each parcel at the right moment remains at the heart of what we do and we know that we must continue to adapt for the challenges of climate change that will impact future harvests.

We will share our full harvest report in the next few weeks, with a more detailed look at the 2026 vintage, including the conditions throughout the growing season, the individual grape varieties and our first assessment of the wines. For now, with just a few late-ripening plots remaining, we are pleased to see the harvest drawing to a close and look forward to watching vintage 2026 take shape in the winery.

A bientôt!

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