Provence : 2023 marked by a cool spring and a hot summer

With a historically dry and mild winter (barely 50 mm of rain by the end of March), the vines came to life earlier. It was a stressful start of season, with the spectre of spring frost looming large. Fortunately, we managed to get through the frost in this sector and bud-burst spread evenly through the month of May. At the start of the season, bunches began to form nicely. Spring was cool and rainy. Vegetative growth was perfect. Ideal conditions for our new Grenache vine planted in April. 

However, mildew pressure is very high, and even more so in organic farming, meaning that we have to keep a close eye on the vines to step in at the right time. The resilience of our vines and some meticulous interventions preserved the harvest. With a cool spring, vine growth slowed and we were back to a normal vegetative stage.

The welcome rains of May and June (250mm in total) came to an abrupt end and a dry spell set in. A hot summer enabled us to keep them vines healthy. July and August were followed by several weeks of very hot weather, which had an impact on ripening. In particular, the heatwave August 15th to 25th saw temperatures rise by almost 2 degrees in one week, disrupting the organisation of the harvest. Once again, we were having to deal with an early and rapid harvest, as in 2022.

We began harvesting on 23rd August, in the middle of a heatwave. The harvest took place at night until sunrise to avoid the heat of the day. After a fast start to the harvest, a thunderstorm broke out at the end of August, replenishing the grapes with juice, relieving the vines and staggering the harvest.

The rain helped develop the phenolic ripeness of our red and white Sélections Parcellaires, heralding a fine end to the ripening process. Harvesting was spread over two weeks, with the final stage being the plots for our reds.

Alcoholic fermentation went perfectly, revealing the typical characteristics of Provence and Sainte-Victoire wines. Although the summer weather conditions were reminiscent of 2022, we obtained a more balanced vintage in terms of acidity and alcohol strength, with the rosés displaying beautiful colours and aromas. The whites have notes of exotic fruit for Mon Plaisir. The Infirmières are rounder, with notes of yellow-fleshed fruit and a saline finish. The reds offer a bouquet of fresh red fruit, lightly spiced with Syrah, the complexity of which will come to the fore during barrel ageing.

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