Notes from winemaker Esther Hermouet, Vignobles Hermouet
Summer:
It’s been extremely warm and dry, with six consecutive heat waves, well above 104°F for many days. Fortunately, we got some quick but useful rain through August, 40mm over the month in total. Combined with our resilient clay-rich soils, that kept the vines in a decent state of water stress, though we’d have preferred water constraint rather than stress. The Sémillon suffered the most, with a few sun-exposed grapes scorched, but the rainy nights at the end of August helped them come through to harvest in good shape.
Sémillon Grapes
Fires:
A terrible and unprecedented fire struck the Gironde in late July. The fire brigade did an extraordinary job bringing the flames under control and saved the entire region. Apart from a strong smell of smoke for a few hours on Sunday, July 26th, the Fronsadais area was completely unaffected, and no impact on the vintage is expected.
The easy side:
A cool, relatively dry spring followed by a hot, dry summer proved highly unfavorable for disease, particularly downy mildew. The 2026 growing season was exceptionally trouble-free. On the eve of harvest, the grapes were in exceptional condition: beautiful, relatively bumpy, and remarkably healthy.
The challenging side:
The growing season brought extreme conditions, with almost no difference between night and day temperatures. The vines got off to an early start, then abruptly stopped growing, hit hard by the severe heat. Ripening then went on and off, producing unusual balances between sugar and acidity and uneven levels of phenolic compounds, including anthocyanins.
How we stand:
Rain on a Grape leaf at Vignobles Hermouet
As in 2025, our clay-rich soils acted as water sponges. Combined with daily observation of the vineyard, that kept the situation under control. We’ve been busy managing grass cover between the rows and staying flexible on trimming to give the grapes the natural shade they needed. Compared to other Bordeaux sub-regions, we’ve been lucky to get some decent rain, a real relief for the wine.
Preparing for harvest at Vignobles Hermouet
We kicked off the 2026 harvest on August 25th with Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, followed on August 26th by a Merlot plot destined for Roc Meynard rosé and clairet. The balances are good, and alcohol levels sit within a fairly usual range: around 12.5% expected for the whites and 13.5% for the rosé and clairet. We’re not hitting records on acidity, but we have what we need for the crunch that defines our fresh range. Aromatics are what matter most right now: a precise, careful vinification is key to drawing out this vintage’s more subtle potential. We’re now seven days from vatting, and daily tasting shows positive progress.
Merlot Berries for Roc Meynard
What’s coming next:
Merlot. We’re letting our Fronsac and Bordeaux Merlot continue ripening this week and will be back to them starting Tuesday, September 8th. Five Merlot plots are on the radar now, along with some beautiful Malbec. We’ll make further decisions on the harvest plan after the upcoming warm weekend (95°F expected again Friday and Saturday).
First merlot pressing, harvest 2026 at Vignobles Hermouet
We’ll also be celebrating the first harvest from our “new” plot of old Merlot vines, planted in 1962, with a hand-harvest alongside friends and family on Saturday, September 12th. Good fun coming. Stay tuned.
Cheers, Esther
