Vintage Factors

A single, light frost at the outset of the season inflicted minor crop losses, but thereafter a pattern stabilized of moderate rain, and daytime temperatures never approaching hot ranges. In the crucial last 6 weeks of the growing season, from early September to mid-October, we enjoyed a period of consistent high pressure, with clear blue sky, warm days and cool evenings which ultimately allowed us to harvest at optimal times. A signature of this vintage is that the reds bear a higher than average acidity, extravagant texture, fragrant aromatics - gifts of the cooler season.