After a cold month of December that finally hinted at a real winter, the situation changes radically in January and gives way to mild weather with a striking rainfall deficit (32 consecutive days without water) which considerably dries out the soils on the surface. The rain arrives discreetly in March, which helps a little to bend the wood in the vineyards. Unlike the last 2 years, there will be no risk of heavy frost to wrack our nerves early April, which in terms of temperature, remains generally cooler than normal. The vegetative cycle resumes in shy weather and the first green tips appear slightly later than usual. Due to lack of spring rainfall in the extreme south of Burgundy, and unlike northern Mâconnais, the Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran areas were better protected from disease and hail. Flowers appear early June and the summer begins in a stormy atmosphere with seasonal temperatures allowing the vine to form beautiful and abundant bunches. The late heat wave in August quickly caused sugar levels to rise and allowed us to start harvesting on September 4th in scorching weather. Nature rewarded us for this difficult season with a healthy and bountiful harvest. The following weeks we enjoyed a mild Indian summer, fermentation is smoothly on its way and once again, the wines promise to reveal great finesse.
2022 is labelled as an early vintage with a mild winter causing the vines to weep and bud early. The winemaking community still remembers the terrible frost episode of the previous year and the weather forecast predicts a temperature drop. Will this be a remake of early spring 2021? Stress is palpable but fortunately, after 2 nights on the lookout, the temperature isn’t as low as expected and the risk of frost recedes a little but remains present until Ice Saints (mid-May). Spring, with a temperature well above seasonal average from May onwards, allowed the vines to flower around the 23rd in good conditions. A very hot and dry summer followed with 120 mm of rain late June, allowing the vines to cope a little better under this blazing sun where some plots (such as young vines or vines planted on very stony soil) are tremendously affected by these conditions. The vines suffer: some grapes burn and ripening is at a standstill. This explains why we try to keep as much foliage as possible to protect the grapes from the heat. Harvest begins August 26th with a healthy yield. Every effort is made to bring in a fresh harvest and thus provide easier working conditions for our teams. Despite all this, the intense drought over the last few months resulted in grape dehydration and consequently lower than expected juice yields, inducing a greater aromatic concentration of our Chardonnay, a guarantee of quality for this promising vintage !
A very wet winter, some cold and snowy episodes. Floods in the south west, the Saône river slightly overflows. The water table is finally being replenished ! The months of February and March are spring-like, with high temperatures for this time of year : quick start for vegetation. Memorable frost April 7th and 8th with winter temperatures. Damage is quite important : nearly 100% of areas in altitude, 20 to 40% elsewhere, with temperatures recorded between -6° and -7°C in some locations. Just like in 2016, after the hail, the vine is at a standstill due to lack of warm weather and the return of humidity. On May 10th and 11th, 70mm of rainfall is recorded. The vine is three weeks late compared to 2020 ! The nice weather comes along May 26th but is quickly followed by storms early June, the air is humid. Vegetation is very uneven. Full flowering around June 10th. Tuesday June 22nd, a severe storm in the afternoon, with hail hitting on a west-east direction. Tremendous damage in Pouilly and Fuissé. Early July, huge quantities of rainfall, 30mm on some days, which makes it difficult to treat the vines resulting in the appearance of mildew in the first week of July. The weather in August isn’t much different: cool and very rainy. Harvesting begins mid-september, under the rain. Maturity levels vary and yields are practically divided by 2. This will give Mâcon wines notes of fresh fruit with a nice acidity but will require a longer ageing process for Pouilly-Fuissé wines to reach a good balance.
After a mild winter, spring is very early, record temperatures in February with up to 23°C at the end of the month and in March. Lockdown will be sunny ! The vine is three weeks ahead of time, blossoming is early, temperatures soar mid-May. Full flowering May 21st, nice cluster output : they are numerous, strong and spaced out ! But once again, the heatwave and especially the lack of water delay evolution. A few storms bring the bare minimum at the right time, nights are rather cool. Maturity is disparate, in some areas many bunches still need to ripen. In the end, harvesting is early : beginning August 25th, on the 29th/30th for the Organic Pouilly-Fuissé and on September 6th for the Organic Mâcon Solutré. Potential alcohol content is around 13° with low acidity. Lots of grapes but rather small berries with thick skin due to drought !
A classic winter, neither cold nor heavy rain, little snow in altitude, light frost mid-February. Spring comes along with sunny days : light frost at dawn then 16 to 19°C in the afternoon. Sunshine is exceptional with 10 to 20% more than an average year, however rainfall is very low and drought hits under high temperatures : an average 1.5°C higher than usual. Blooming begins early June, full flowering around June 10th. The heatwave late June to July 25th dries everything out, like in 2003. Water stress delays vegetative growth. This year is marked by strong opposites : temperature highs and lows, as well as lack of water. The weather late August and early September is perfect, millerandage is set locally, classic harvesting starts September 5th. Good potential alcohol content without excess, acceptable acidity, medium-low yield.
Winter is very rainy, with cool rather than cold temperatures but heavy snowfall in the mountains. Spring is normal but quickly warms up during the second half of April with 30°C! Cool temperatures return May 8th: Ice Saints (normally a frost spell from May 11th to 13th ) were rainy, 30mm of much needed rain for soils dried out by the wind. Humidity and stormy weather set in late May until mid-June : storms every day but very different levels of rainfall from one village to another. The region of Bresse is particularly wet and many parts of France are flooded. The weather completely changes mid-June with scorching heat followed by winds blowing from the north and drying the land. The vines are healthy despite the onset of mildew around June 16th. The rain will stay away for the rest of this very hot, dry and windy summer. Harvesting starts August 28th: bunches are tight and heavy which blocks maturity resulting in a good potential alcohol content (12.5°). Harvesting ends September 12th . High volumes for 2018 !
This winter season is rather cold with little snowfall, up to -10°C in January. A cool month of February with negative temperatures at night. A warmer month of March and exceptional weather in April with 26 °C on the 10th, allowing for a quick budbreak. Temperatures continue to rise, growing into a heatwave late May (31°C) and climbing to 37°C in June. Hygrometry is low but sufficient to allow vines to grow rapidly. This leads to full blooming around May 20th but flowers wilt quickly. A good harvest is expected. On June 29th, a hailstorm devastates the Beaujolais area. On the heights of Solutré, some noticeable damage and around La Roche 25% of plots are impacted. The vines are remarkably healthy, and harvest is expected late August, early September. Harvesting begins August 29th. Average volume with high potential alcohol content (14°).
A long, mild and very humid winter, a slow start to spring and a severe hailstorm April 13th (from Leynes to Clessé and through Solutré). After this devastating hail, three weeks of cool, rainy and bad weather, delaying bud regrowth. Excess rainfall during the first semester and below average during the next, allowing grapes to ripen nicely and slowly. Harvesting begins September 16th. Grape maturity is very disparate due to high quantity of fruit on the vine. Good potential alcohol content: bewteen 11° and 13°, with a nice acidity and balanced pH ! Small volume loss in Solutré, Pouilly, Fuissé, Davayé, Vergisson and normal loss in the other villages. A vintage with low volume but high quality !
Fall 2015 is very mild, almost summer-like, but a lot of rain. The cold weather comes along December 1st but doesn’t last. It will only return late January, with some snow : the vines rest. Spring is normal, cool with a north wind blowing. The vines grow normally, blossoms enjoy June’s warmth and sunshine. Full flowering around June 7th. A heatwave and drought settle in rapidly with temperatures rising up to 41°C : scorching on bunches and leaves. Some rain July 18th (6mm), which is insufficient. Old vines are deeply rooted and show good resistance but the younger ones are a pitiful sight ! On August 14th, 14mm of rainfall, still not enough to overcome drought. Growth stalls however bunches are bountiful and healthy. Harvesting begins August 28th.
Winter is mild and very, very wet, a few early snowflakes in November, falling on the last leaves. The saying « Snow on leaves makes for a winter without cold nor snow » appears to be true. A series of wet storms all across France, even on Christmas ! In Mâconnais, abundant rain, every other day, literally saturating the soil. Late February, the vines cry, sap is on its way ! On March 10th, it’s 18°C. Flowering is ahead of time in early June and quick. A great quantity of strong grapes but in an uneven way. Hail hits Solutré July 5th, 10 to 40 % loss. A lot of rainfall the first half of July, a cold and humid fall. Harvesting starts September 9th with decent potential alcohol content and acidity.
Very wet winter, no severe cold, some snow in January but mainly water all season : the quantity of rain is huge and the soil is saturated. It snows April 27th after a few summer-like days just before. On May 19th, storms and some hail. Spring looks like fall, it’s surreal, it hadn’t happened since 1787 ! It’s 5°C on the morning of May 27th and for the following days : the vines stall. It’s a late year with harvesting starting September 27th. Good potential alcohol content (12-13°), mold settles in and destroys the end of the harvest in October.
November, December and January are mild, spring-like and rather dry. In January, severe cold settles in for 3 weeks with permanent frost and temperatures as low as -13°C ! The wind increases the terrible cold sensation. The Saône river freezes. On February 14th, it’s the end of the frost. March seems to offer a beautiful spring, like in 2011, but it doesn’t last : the rain quickly returns and daily bad weather lasts until the beginning of summer. Flowering takes place under difficult conditions, a lot of millerandage and shot berries, especially in premature vines. Oïdium and mildew wreak havoc. Some hail here and there ! The nice weather returns after July 14th, wine growers can get some rest. August sees every type of weather, including a scalding heatwave from the 16th to the 22nd ! Early September brings on what we hoped for : sun and north wind. Harvesting starts September 14th, perfectly healthy grapes, potential alcohol content is better than expected.
December 2010 is a wintry month, with snow and cold weather. January is calm, February and March are mild and summer sets in early April. The buds in the vines explode, 25 to 27°C in the afternoon ! The vines are three weeks early, the weather is very dry ! Beautiful fruit set, perfect flowering, the rain finally arrives to soothe the vine’s water stress. July and August shift : cool, grey and rainy months with little sunshine. Grapes ripen slowly ! Initially planned for August 20-25th, harvesting finally starts late August/early September depending on maturity. Potential alcohol content ranges from 11 to 13°, pH is high and acidity low. Harvesting lasts a month, beginning August 27th. It should be an aromatic, very supple, soft vintage with great success!
Winter is long, cold, humid, and never ending! Spring isn’t any better with rain, cool temperatures and a lack of sunshine. However, the vines start off in April and stall under the grey weather. Flowering begins late May, continues early June but the cold and humidity are back and stall growth once again. Great storms with impressive rainfall complete the picture. Draguignan will be heavily impacted June 15th by devastating torrents. Hail hits again Thursday September 2nd on areas already affected last year. Harvesting originally planned on September 20th is moved forward, September 18th to 30th, due to grey mold.
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