After an unusually mild and dry winter, our Chardonnay vines started to bud on 17 March. Warm weather in early spring was followed by a north-easterly cold spell at the beginning of April. It took more than three weeks for the normal growth cycle to resume. Flowering and berry set followed without incident. Hot and damp weather set in during the last fortnight of June and continued until mid-July. Despite a heatwave, regular light rain and damp mornings until the end of the month meant that July was cooler than the average. Temperatures in August were also lower than normal, with regular rainfall that staggered the ripening process over time.
The Chardonnay and Chenin grapes were harvested at normal dates for the estate, starting on September 7th. An exceptional quality thanks to Domaine de Baronarques’ rich and varied terroir.