Provence wines: a 2020 vintage beyond the vagaries of the weather
Provence wines: a 2020 vintage beyond the vagaries of the weather
In the vineyard
02 February 2021
Working around the whims of the climate
A year marked by the vagaries of the weather, exceptional rainfall, high cryptogrammic pressure... The 2020 winegrowing year saw this vintage brought to a successful conclusion with an exceptional Provence rosé!
In contrast to 2018, the winter of 2019 was milder, with an average temperature of around 8.5°C. However, at the beginning of spring, temperatures dropped suddenly. On March 25th, the temperature was -3°C at 5 o’clock in the morning. The frost did no harm, but snow fell at the end of the day on the Pic des Mouches de la Sainte-Victoire. However, the next day, with the thermometer reading -3.5°C, frost damage was observed on most of the vineyards in the lowlands. Bud cotton offered meagre protection and budburst was delayed, happening around April 8th.
Unbeknownst to us, spring was about to get very wet (300mm of rain). We had to act quick to tend the vines in the face of increasing cryptogrammic pressure.
On May 12th, hail on the banks of Sainte-Victoire river added complexity to vine management. However, the grassy covering on our plots enabled us to get into the vines quickly and thus avoid more serious damage from mildew. Meanwhile, the phenological stages advanced at a rather leisurely pace. Blossom came at the end of May and ripening at the end of July on the Syrahs. The other grape varieties followed suit a few days later. After a turbulent spring, heat and drought set in during July-August.
As a result of an exceptionally hot summer with maximum temperatures reaching 41°C, the phenological maturity of the berries came rapidly, taking us by surprise. Thus, the 2020 harvest began on August 27th on the Clairettes in the Les Infirmières sector. The harvest was intense, ending on September 15th with the Esquirol red for our Sélection Parcellaire. This vintage with no water shortages brought pale-coloured rosés, structured on the palate with beautiful freshness supported by citrus fruit notes and floral aromas. Our Selection Parcellaire Les Infirmières presents a nice tension, with a pleasant acid alcohol balance where mineral and white flower aromas mingle. This year’s Esquirol reflects red fruits, with crunchy chocolate aromas and mentholated notes.
