Cool weather in late spring and early summer, when the vines were in bloom, meant that many flowers did not become fertilised and the crop was thus small. The rest of the summer, however, was long, lingering and dry. We were thus able to harvest fully ripe fruit with beautifully concentrated flavours.

Early summer and midsummer were extremely hot and dry, but the latter part was cooler, bringing the season back into balance. A long warm autumn ensured the fruit was in optimal condition when picked.

Cool weather over spring resulted in a reduced number of grapes “setting” on the vines. This, combined with the hot summer that followed and the lingering warm, dry autumn has given our wine extra concentration. The small crop of grapes was harvested optimally ripe and in perfect condition.

It was the autumn which stamped its mark on this vintage. Until February the pattern of weather had been normal, but from then on it became remarkable. There followed the most perfect lingering autumn with a seemingly never-ending run of warm, dry, calm days. The grape growing

season was thus lengthened, allowing the fruit to be picked well ripened and in excellent condition.