The winter of 2015-2016 was particularly mild: the estate’s weather stations recorded only five mornings of frost over the entire winter period and temperatures were 1 to 2° C higher than normal. 252 mm of rain fell between 1 November 2015 and 31 March 2016, helping to reconstitute water reserves in the soil.
Budbreak on the Chardonnay vines began on 15 March, ten days earlier than in an average year.
The usual amount of rain fell in April, May and June but the weather was cool, with average temperatures 1° C lower than normal, holding back vegetation growth. Flowering started on 30 May and ended on 10 June, two days later than the average.
July, August and September were hot and dry, with temperatures 1° C higher than normal and only 35mm of rainfall. However, the estate’s clay-limestone soil proved resistant to drought. Veraison in the Chardonnay parcels occurred between 2 and 20 August.
Thanks to excellent late-summer weather, the grapes reached optimum maturity in perfect health. Picking in the Chardonnay parcels began on 7 September, a week earlier than in an average year.