(Decanter) - Bordeaux's 'driest summer since 1893' means concerns about water stress but producers are feeling good compared to their cousins in Burgundy as the 2016 red harvest gets underway. 

The harvest for Bordeaux 2016 reds is now fully underway with Merlot grapes arriving in cellars across the region.

But, with no rain forecast for the next 10 days, winemakers are in no rush.

Those with later ripening Cabernet vineyards, especially in Médoc, are set to wait a bit longer.

There is a growing sense of optimism after a strange year of weather. Bordeaux is one of the only French wine regions set to slightly increase its yield versus 2015.

Frost and hailstorms have blighted several other areas, notably Burgundy, Loire and Champagne.

Pierre Lurton, at Château Cheval Blanc in St-Emilion, told Decanter.com that the last plot of Merlots were picked on 1 October after 12 days of harvesting. He expects to wait another two or more weeks for Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

‘We never could have imagined back in June that we would be harvesting such a promising vintage under these perfect harvest conditions,’ said Lurton.

‘After a rainy start to the season, this has been the driest summer since 1893.’

A rainy spring with 750mm of rainfall between January and 23 June gave way to drought in August and September. Some producers shared photos of withering vines on social media, but 25-40mm in late September helped things.