Harvest Report ’26

Bijou: 2026 vintage

France has just lived through one of its hardest harvests in years. Heatwaves began at the end of May; June averaged 22.8°C nationally and July 24.9°C, the hottest of either month on record and ahead of 2003 (Météo-France). From Languedoc to Champagne, picking dates broke every precedent, low yields and water stress are raising questions of typicity, and the agriculture ministry declined to publish a forecast at all.

Bijou came through in the South by knowing exactly where to stand. In our high, cool and windswept sites winter rain had filled the soil reserves, canopies were dense and protective, and altitude, sea breeze or a Pyrenean night kept the fruit healthy, fresh and precise.

We opened on 11th August above Limoux with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Two days later, on 13th August, the first Sauvignon Blanc grapes were picked in the Coteaux de Béziers, ten days ahead of a normal year. The season then moved region by region and grape by grape, ending with the last Cinsault in Béziers on 26th September. 

Coteaux de Béziers: Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier

Winter and early-spring rain refilled the soils, giving even budburst and a dense canopy that shaded the clusters through the heatwaves, while cover crops improved structure and drought resilience. The dry summer kept the fruit exceptionally healthy, and moderate rain with cooler nights at the end of August revived the reds. The whites show golden hues and aromatic finesse, with citrus alongside ripe exotic fruit; time on the lees will add volume and roundness while keeping the palate lively. That is the register we look for in our Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. The rosés are expressive and beautifully balanced.

Haute Vallée de l’Aude: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Crémant de Limoux

Vineyards climb to 500 m beneath the snow-capped Pyrenees, where Mediterranean days meet mountain nights and Atlantic influence. Temperatures run 2–3°C below the regional average and rainfall reaches about 900 mm a year, against roughly 600 mm in Narbonne. Molasse of sands, gravels and clays covers most of the area, with Eocene limestone and red clays in the south: a pairing that recalls Burgundy on a much younger geology.

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay came in almost together, and a little rain in the second week preserved their freshness. The Chardonnay is balanced and ripe, with white-fleshed fruit and excellent minerality, at around 13% ABV. The Pinot Noir is bright in colour and fruit, with fresh cherry and forest floor, closer to 12.5%. As the heat returned we moved to Chenin Blanc, which with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir makes up Crémant de Limoux, and this base has ripeness with the acidity intact. The whole harvest took 31 days, exceptional for the area. After a wet spring in 2024 and a severe drought in 2025, 2026 was early and hot, and the cool mountain nights did the rest.

Coteaux Varois en Provence

An early, exceptionally hot vintage, with several heatwaves, a drought and a wildfire close by that cut juice yields. Summer rain and careful preparation limited the damage, and the harvest looks closer to normal than July’s fears suggested. Quality should be good. 40–50 mm rainfall at the end of August cooled the nights and the organically farmed vines recovered quickly. The vines negotiated the episode well although berries were smaller and more concentrated than usual. 

Ardèche

A new project may be underway in this unique region further north than anything else we make and in a region better known for its gorges than its wines. 2026 is where the story starts, and we will be sharing more details in a few months.

In the cellar

Fermentations are under way and the first signs are very positive: golden, aromatic whites; lively, expressive rosés; vivid Pinot Noir with fresh cherry and forest floor. Every lot is fermenting and resting on its own. In a couple of months we will be blending and look forward to sharing more information with you shortly.