2021 vintage in Portugal: the climate has not been kind to us
2021 vintage in Portugal: the climate has not been kind to us
In the vineyard
14 February 2022
A cruel climate
The onset of the New Year sees a very cold January in the Douro, with temperatures below the last 4 years’ averages. Then the weather gradually warms up in February, with good rainfall during the period, uilding up some water reserves.
The budburst was a week earlier than in 2020, but any ground gained dissipated as soon as flowering started.
A cool, unstable summer shook the Douro, with June producing hail storms and fairly heavy rainfall. The consequences were not long in coming and the first outbreaks of mildew appeared on the grapes. Then came powdery mildew, requiring rapid action in the vineyards to keep the health of the grapes in check. The cooler climate continued through to harvest, sometimes even disrupting it.
As a result, harvesting was to start later this year, on August 28, Pinteivera first, on the plots where the grapes had been protected by the winegrowers’ toil. They are beautifully ripe with mature tannins. A week later, we started on the whites on the granite, and saw that the old vines had done well.
After rain in the first half of September, we awaited the return of the sun before returning to the harvest: the red plots in particular, on the Cima Corgo for Eleivera, offered up healthy grapes having withstood the September rainfall. The harvest ended on the Rabigato plot, requiring some reorganisation.
This fresh vintage gives the wines a nice balance and acidity. They are less sunny and alcoholic than usual, but even so, a beautifully elegant Touriga. As for the very promising whites, they already hold freshness and fine tension.
