When every bunch counts

Harvests can never be exactly the same. But some vintages remind us more powerfully than others just how decisive nature can be.

This year’s harvest for Palies Rizes, one of La Tour Melas’ signature wines, was one of them.

It was an exceptionally challenging growing season. Frost caused almost complete devastation in the vineyards, leaving us with an extremely small crop by the time harvest arrived.

And when quantities are so limited, every bunch counts.

The entire team was in the vineyard from early morning. Harvesting was only the beginning, followed by a particularly demanding selection process. Careful sorting was essential to separate the regular bunches from second- and third-generation grapes and retain the fruit that showed the characteristics we were looking for.

The quantity may be small. But the fruit we do have has reached a very good level of ripeness. In a vintage like this one, that becomes even more meaningful.

Nothing in the vineyard can ever be taken for granted. We can observe, measure, plan and prepare, but every growing season has the potential to challenge our expectations.

And that is an important part of our work: understanding what we actually have in our hands and making the right decisions accordingly.

Because harvest is not always about receiving what you expected at the beginning of the season. Sometimes, it is about making the very best of what nature ultimately gives you.

And this year, perhaps more than ever, every grape that made it this far carries even greater value.