Palate
Merlot, which made up a large part of the blend this year because of its early ripening, was ripe, suave and had very good length of flavour. It is the Merlot variety with its bright, cheerful character that comes through in this vintage.
Cabernet Franc plays a necessary part in the blend but in a more restrained proportion. It brings balance, character and complexity.
Growing Conditions
From winter to the beginning of summer, the first six months of the year were cool, and rainfall was heavy. These conditions resulted in substantial reductions in crop yields as from the flowering process.
Generally fine weather at last arrived in July, followed by stormy conditions at the beginning of August and then favourable dry conditions towards the end of the month.
Thanks to a very small quantity of grapes and meticulous sorting of the best berries during virtually the whole of August, ripening was homogeneous.
As harvest time approached, and despite very tricky hot and humid weather conditions, the risks taken with such a low yield to achieve good ripeness levels in the berries paid off.
Crop thinning and de-leafing from 8th to 30th August 2013
Harvest
Harvest from 30th September to 1st October, then from 3rd October to 5th October, finishing on 9th October 2013
Yield: 22 hectolitres per hectare
Bottling
25th to 29th May 2015
Winemaking
After a gentle extraction and three weeks of vatting.
Aging
The wine continued its ageing in barrels, half of which were new.
