RELATIONSHIPS
Separate the proportion of the vineyard from the proportion in the bottle.
Include judgement by year and plot.
Vineyards under cultivation
Each grape variety has different ripening periods and vineyard conditions.
Finished wine
Verify the ratios after sorting and blending in that year's records.
This is a summary of the relationships explained in the main text. For details on grape composition and production conditions, please refer to the main text and official sources. Sources and reference materials
FIELD NOTE 01
Comparing ripening periods
Generally, Merlot ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. The difference in harvest timing also affects how the year's weather impacts it.
Early ripening does not always mean light wines; late ripening does not always mean powerful. Also consider ripeness at harvest, extraction, and aging choices.
FIELD NOTE 02
Vineyard structure and composition of the wine
The ratio of grape varieties a producer owns in their vineyards and the blend ratio in a single bottle from a certain year are different. Selection of wines harvested and vinified by plot will change the final blend composition.
When comparing different vintages from the same château, the proportion of grape varieties is not necessarily fixed.
FIELD NOTE 03
From general tendencies on both banks to individual examples
Cabernet Sauvignon is notable in the Médoc on the Left Bank, and Merlot in leading regions on the Right Bank. But do not equate the differences in bank with just varietal differences.
Comparisons require appellation, vineyard, vintage, and actual blend. Be conscious that differences between two bottles include both terroir and producer.
FIELD NOTE 04
Connecting early and late ripening to harvest risk
The tendency for Merlot to ripen before Cabernet Sauvignon changes the timing at which each variety might be exposed to autumn rainfall. As ripening progresses while waiting to harvest, each parcel faces a balance of advantages, such as increased maturity, against risks like fruit damage.
Soil moisture is also relevant. In soils containing gravel, which drains quickly after rain, versus those with clay, which retains water, the changes in available water to the roots will differ. Stronger water deficiency suppresses photosynthesis, so there is not a simple straight-line relationship such as “the drier it is, the more sugar increases.” The variety allocation in the Médoc should be understood as a combination of ripening period and water conditions.
Basis for this section:Medoc Producers Association | Grape varieties and ripening ↗ ／ AWRI｜Climate and water conditions and grapevine growth ↗
They do not necessarily match. Due to plot or vintage selection, separate the information on plantings from individual vintage specifications.
PAUSE & REFLECT
Check your understanding.
Does the château's planting ratio become the blend ratio for each year's wine as is?
Read the explanation ＋
They do not necessarily match. Due to plot or vintage selection, separate the information on plantings from individual vintage specifications.
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View saved notes →Courses related to this question
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Petrus: distinguishing similar-sounding châteaux →
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Sources and reference materials
These are the reference materials for the main text. For details of production regulations, consult the current documents. For individual wine specifications, refer to materials for the relevant vintage.
- Medoc Producers Association | Grape varieties and ripening ↗
- Bordeaux Wine Council | Merlot and regions ↗
- Château Margaux | Vineyard Parcels ↗
- AWRI｜Climate and water conditions and grapevine growth ↗