The Côteaux and the Vieilles Vignes do make a difference…

The rather warm conditions of the last few vintages could have led us to believe that the same conditions would repeat themselves with the 2008 vintage, but, that was not the case !

The 2008 vintage will have a style that one could call old fashion, the product of a vintage that was from cold to very cold with very slow maturing rates.

The spring rainfall did not make things easier, promoting mildew which was responsible for the loss of part of the harvest.

The rather cold summer, with no periods of excessive heat, did not promote fast maturation of the grapes as had been the case in previous years.

At the beginning of September, an unexpected rainfall came to add complexity to this vintage, with strong rains, mainly in the north and in the Rhône Valley.

This wet period was fared perfectly in those areas where the sanitary state of the fruit was perfect.

The grapes that were in perfect good health were found in those vineyards belonging to the best vignerons. It was these same vignerons that received the full benefit of a long favorable period with cool temperatures and plenty of sun beginning in mid-September.

The weather during harvest brought smiles to our faces, knowing that the quality potential was rather good.

The pluses of this vintage :

• Very slow maturation. Moderate sugar levels. Beautiful balance. Superb color.
Healthy, good acidities. Abundant tannins. Superb white wines full of freshness and fruit.

The minuses of the vintage :

• Small harvest. Very long harvesting period. Sorting and follow-up of maturity levels were crucial.
• Maturity problems in the coldest parcels.
• Tannins are a bit austere in some wines
• Sanitary problems in the parcels located in the flat areas.

Consequently, as it happens every year but particularly in those with difficult weather conditions, the 2008 will be a year of vignerons: The work both with the soils and the vineyards was crucial.

A patient, confident process of aging should reveal the quality potential of the wines produced by these vignerons.

Older wines, produced in cold years, can be absolutely remarkable.

We often taste these wines: this time it our turn to make them! In fact the maturation process will be determinant. This maturation process that will reveal all the potential of these wines and will allow the terroir to express itself freely, in a way we have not yet seen, with the signature of a vintage particularly attractive: 2008

Mother Nature loves to stimulate those that serve her well…