Vintage Factors

Another challenging season which started with very early budbreak in late March, followed by a 3 night of frost which impacted and reduced the yield in the early budding Chardonnay and Nebbiolo by 20%, three more frosty nights in April did not cause further damage and the season normalized in early May inducing ideal bloom conditions for the clusters. Above average precipitation in June until early August made us a bit jittery, yet hopeful, and finally we started receiving some periods of sunshine, harvest started on August 21st on white varietals with good to very good quality especially on grapes picked in early September. Stellar-solar weather in the first 4 weeks of September gifted us with an opportunity to pick good to excellent fruit according to varietal and vineyard block combination. Another Octagon Vintage from Merlot Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, no Cabernet Sauvignon.