Chateau Raymond Lafon has joined Chateau d’Yquem and Chateau Rieussec in announcing that it will not make a 2012 vintage wine.
Raymond Lafon, an unclassified Sauternes producer, told decanter.com in the build-up to en primeur that a dry September had prevented development of botrytis – the so-called noble rot – which naturally concentrates grape juices whilst imparting spicy flavours that are characteristic of Sauternes.
Chateau co-owner Jean-Pierre Meslier explained that the harvest was too small, describing it as ‘fine and elegant’, but not as ‘concentrated as normal.’
The estate harvested with about 114 grams of residual sugar instead of the chateau’s habitual 130 to 140, he said.
‘When rain fell later in the month, botrytis spread, but more rain than needed in October compromised pickings.’
The best grapes will make ‘an excellent’ second wine: ‘Les Jeunes Pousses de Raymond-Lafon,’ Meslier added.
The last vintage that Chateau Raymond Lafon did not produce any wine was 1974.
