* a cold spell at the beginning of winter (end of November).
* low temperatures, and snow had a beneficial effect on the ground. It was never-the-less, a winter with average rainfall.
* bud-burst at the normal time (around Easter).
* an early drought creating a major hydric deficit throughout the season.
* conditions at the end of May were favourable to growth and high temperatures led to normal flowering, fast and uniform around June 13th.
the end of the month.
* little sun in August but still no rain. The weather in early September was mild with an average amount of sun and not too much rain.
* a north wind prevailed 8 days before the harvest bringing the cold and sun.
At the end of August sanitary conditions were perfect in the vines, and there had been little trouble with odium and mildew throughout the whole season (as a result of the drought).
Veraison was very early signalling an early harvest. However, as there was only an average amount of sun at the end of August and early September we harvested a little later than the flower had indicated.
The Harvest
We started harvesting on September 18th in Meursault, alternating between vineyards planted with Chardonnay in the mornings and those planted with Pinot Noir in the afternoons.
* 18th September: The young vines in Meursault Charmes and Meursault Désirée, then the young vines in Volnay Santenots du milieu.
* 19th September: The young vines in Meursault Clos de la Barre, Meursault Luraule and the old vines in Volnay Santenots du milieu.
* 20th September: Meursault En la Barre and Volnay Clos des Chênes.
* 21st September: Montrachet, Meursault Perrières and the old vines in Volnay Santenots du milieu.
* 22nd September: Meursault Genevrières, Meursault Goutte d'Or and the old vines of Volnay Santenots du milieu.
* 23rd September: Puligny Champgain and the old vines in Meursault Charmes.
* 24th and 25th September: the old vines in Meursault Clos de la Barre and Monthélie Duresses.
Ripeness was good: about 13° for Pinots Noirs and 13° to 14° for Chardonnays (13.8° for Meursault Perrières and 14.2° for Montrachet)
The Chardonnays were in perfect condition with lovely golden grapes. The Pinot Noirs had a maximum of 5% grey rot which we were able to sort easily on the vine.
Yield was good in Volnay and Monthélie, between 30 and 40 hl/ha, and very good for the Chardonnays depending on their location :
* Montrachet : 30 hl/ha
* Meursault Perrières and Meursault Genévrières : 40 hl/ha
* Meursault village, Meursault Clos de la Barre, Meursault Charmes : about 50hl/ha.
It was a good year for yield, similar to that of 2000.
For the whites, vinification was more delicate: the high level of alcohol in certain cuvées rendered fermentation rather long and difficult to finish; some cuvées began their MLF during the alcoholic fermentation. It was a very technical vintage.
The whites :
Only the wines which have finished their alcoholic fermentation are readable at present, They are both rich and powerful, with intense fruit. Analyses reveal very good acidity ( 3.20 to 3.25 pH and around 4g total acidity after MLF) which is well coated in 'the flesh' and the power of the wines. They are simultaneously structured and very rich and deserve a relatively long stay in barrels. Very powerful wines to keep, like the '89 (on our Domaine!) and the '92.
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