Stories
Clarendelle’s Savoir-Faire:
The 2025 Harvest
With the guidance of Nathalie Bassot-Dworkin, Clarendelle’s Director of Operations and oenologist, the 2025 harvest unfolded across Bordeaux from mid-August through mid-October. It began in Pessac-Léognan with the whites, followed by the early reds for rosés. As the weeks passed, Merlots and Cabernets took their turn, with the harvest drawing to a close in the Médoc on its latest-ripening terroirs. This year was marked by an early start, yielding grapes of remarkable quality, though in smaller quantities.
Inspired by Champagne…
Similar to the vinification process in Champagne, Clarendelle works with local winegrowing partners to select only the finest parcels of wine to create the perfect blend for each vintage. This method guarantees the best possible selection of grapes, ensuring the quality of wine from one vintage to the next… a strategy that sets Clarendelle apart because it allows them to select the best grapes each year according to the climate.
Furthermore, these partnerships are selected with care. They are long-term relationships that our Director of Operations and oenologist Nathalie Bassot-Dworkin has been developing and fostering since Clarendelle’s establishment in 2005.
“The harvest in Bordeaux is always a season filled with energy, joy, and a sense of togetherness. Last year, while visiting one of our partner estates in Montagne Saint-Émilion, I was invited to join the family for their harvest lunch in the backyard. Three generations were gathered around the table…from the grandparents who had seen decades of vintages, to their son just beginning to take on the family tradition. We shared a hearty home-cooked meal, with laughter, stories, and plenty of good wine. That generosity and hospitality capture the spirit of harvest time in Bordeaux: it’s not only about the grapes, but also about the people and the bonds we build with them.”
Nathalie Bassot-Dworkin, Clarendelle’s Director of Operations and oenologist
