After a very dry and relatively mild January, colder weather arrived in February, with frost and a period of snow. Despite some rain at the end of March, the winter as a whole was rather dry.

Budbreak started on 25 March for the Merlot and Cabernet Franc and on 7 April for the Cabernet Sauvignon. Heavy rain fell during April, more than double the average, and continued throughout the following month, giving the wettest May since 1962, with 122 mm of rain in 22 days.

Dry weather returned in June, when there was only one day of rain, and flowering took place evenly. Mid-flowering for all three varieties was recorded around 16 June. July and August were very hot, with storms that brought heavy rain. The grapes matured normally, and mid-veraison for the three varieties was noted around 20 August. Some rain fell in early September but was soon replaced by an anticyclone which heralded an Indian summer, enabling the crop to reach excellent maturity. Although the weather was favourable to the spread of disease, appropriate treatment ensured that the grapes remained in perfect condition.