08/01/2026

🍷 Bottling: a crucial step, more technical than it seems

Bottling is often seen as the final formality of a vintage. An almost mechanical step that simply concludes the work in the vineyard and cellar. 👉 In reality, the opposite is true . Bottling is a highly technical stage, decisive for the final quality of the wine , and undoubtedly one of the most sensitive. At this point, the wine is ready, balanced and stable. Yet the slightest imprecision can jeopardise months, sometimes years of work . 📅 This year, bottling took place on 17 December , just before Christmas. A deliberate choice that called for extra vigilance , particularly over ambient conditions . 🌡️ In winter, temperature and humidity are critical parameters. Conditions that are too cool or poorly controlled humidity can cause very practical difficulties: ❗ problems with label adhesion , ❗ inadequate bonding , ❗ variations in how materials behave, ❗ disruptions to the consistency of the line . 👉 Every detail counts. Before the first bottle is filled, everything is planned: 🔧 room temperature, 🔍 thermal stability of the wines, ⚙️ precise line settings, 📐 checks on labels and adhesives, 🔄 smooth coordination between every station. Nothing is left to chance: at this moment, there is no room for error . ⏱️ Bottling is also a question of pace . Too fast, and risks increase. Too slow, and the wine is exposed unnecessarily. 👉 It is a subtle balance between precision, consistency and technical control. This discipline matters all the more when the aim is to respect the wine as it is , without trying to correct or disguise it. The winegrower becomes a conductor : creating the conditions for everything to run smoothly, without ever overshadowing the wine itself . 🍇 This bottling marks the arrival of two 2023 cuvées : L’Originel 2023 – Vin de France Our original cuvée, from old vines planted in 1955 , faithful to the estate's spirit. L’Essentiel 2023 – AOP Bergerac A balanced, clearly expressed cuvée, created to convey the terroir faithfully. 🔔 From this moment, the wine leaves the cellar. It is no longer in our hands. Our responsibility was to guide it all the way with rigour and humility . The rest now belongs to time, to the table and to the people who discover it .