The seasons were particularly marked in 2013 with a very cold and long winter followed by a rainy and fresh spring which led to a delay in the vegetative cycle and disrupted vines’ growth with coulure and berry-shot in some area, especially on grenache.
However, heavy rains during the spring helped rebuild water supplies.
The hot and dry summer was conducive to vine development which, drawing on its water reserves, caught up with the delay at flowering time.
Nevertheless, maturities were long to obtain, and the harvest had to be delayed from one to three weeks depending on the area.
Vintage character, strong acidity allowed to preserve fine balance but the blending profile of red wines is generally marked by the Grenache volume shortfall in the harvest.
So the wines are often strongest, tightest, hardest for the less interesting but they often lack sweetness.
