Mâconnais and Beaujolais, 2022 : a record-breaking early vintage

The first quarter of 2022 brought us normal temperatures, a lot of sunshine and a water shortfall of 30mm, marking the start of a year in which water would be a rare commodity...

While the first green tips were visible on the vine at the end of March, a cold snap led to fears of frost again at the start of April. In the end, the damage caused by the frost that came was very localised and not as bad as the black frost of 2021. The point of mid-budding was observed around 8 April on the Chardonnay and around 12 April on the Gamay.

The rest of the second quarter saw a significant lack of rain in April and May, which was then partially offset by some localised showers in June. The temperatures however reached record levels, averaging +1.3°C above normal. Flowering began around 20 May, already making the 2022 vintage one of the earliest. The high temperatures led to successive thunderstorms breaking out over the vineyards at the end of June, bringing water and sometimes a few hailstones too.

July and August were among the hottest and driest months of the last 30 years. On 4 August, we recorded 43.5°C in the shade in Chazay d’Azergues! A drop of rain around 15 August gave the vines the boost they needed to hone their maturity, although the water shortfall
remained severe at the end of August. The weather conditions enabled the vines to remain in exceptional health during this season.

The date of the “harvest bans” for the red Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages was set for 17 August, i.e.,16 days earlier than the average date since 1993. This makes 2022 the second earliest vintage since 1992, after that of 2003. Harvesting began on 25 August in our Fleurie
vineyards where the grapes were of remarkable Quality, suggesting that the wines would have intensity and a luscious character.

For the cassis, 2022 was a year of high crop loss due to the episodes of frost in April. After the frost, the blackcurrant bushes were then put to the test by the lack of water and the high temperatures in the summer. However, the drooping growth of the old blackcurrant bushes from which our fruit originates protected it from being too badly scalded. The fruit, showing lovely ripeness and amazing aromatic intensity, was picked on 29 June!

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