South-West | 2020 vintage
Winegrowers in the South-West of France also endured weather challenges during the 2020 vintage. Humidity, particularly in June, led to an outbreak of mildew in the Gers, Landes, and Basque regions, however, this was contained. As was the case for most of France, the summer was extremely hot and dry in the region, preventing ripening in the most vulnerable areas. However, as the season drew to a close, conditions improved, with sunny days and cool nights, ensuring that satisfactory levels of acidity were maintained. The resulting wines are of fine standard, especially the reds which are beautifully concentrated, as is the case in Gaillac and Marcillac. Cahors wines have wonderful tannic structures with balance provided by the well-preserved acidity and a fine persistence. The white wines from the traditional appellations of Irouléguy and Saint-Mont reveal a pleasing fruity and tasty character. The sweet wines, whose grapes were harvested in the first weeks of September, offer great aromatic intensity and concentration, particularly in Jurançon.
