2017 a very difficult year for European wines, with record low productions and earliest harvest start dates. Tortured vines however make for excellent quality!
Another fantastic year to be a tourist, but not a grape. Lack of rain meant production down 35-40%, though yielding highly fruity and concentrated berries.
Our 11th Century Chapel restored, but not in time to protect the Grenache, with yields down a remarkable 60%. However the Syrah, in particular, coming out strong.
Our oenologue's most challenging year in 22 years working in France. Rolling the dice for a late harvest brings juice back into the grapes and yields fantastic Syrah.
The rain gods have answered our prayers, but the other climate gods want to keep us on our toes... Fruity and aromatic grapes for a wine that might age nicely.
Wine making is not for the faint hearted... Snow in April (!), dry and cold early summer, a too hot late summer, then our latest and longest harvest to date.
A complicated year with some of the strangest weather patterns in a decade. While Bordeaux is a disaster, the Languedoc and Minervois climate is very different, and with careful attention making decent wine. Judge each of the French regions on their own merits!