2008 so far

A gorgeous Summer with a wet Spring before it.We are back to normal weather patterns compared to 2007. Growth started slowly in cool, wet conditions, so the year was not early in that respect.

Since every year something has to be excessive, 2008 had abundant rain in May and June, almost three times the average quantity for May. July was dry with three consecutive weeks without rain and the warmth arrived in the second week with daytime temperatures in the thirties, while temperatures remained cool at night around 15°C.

The positive point about this vintage is that the grapes got bigger in July, stimulated by all the light and heat, which I hope will bring us thick fruit skins, full of tannin. Water reserves in the ground were high, so the vines found all they needed, with only the young vines showing signs of “thirst”, before 15 mm of rain fell on 28 July, unfortunately during a bad storm, which also brought large hailstones. Quite marked damage appeared irregularly in the different plots with losses of between 5 and 30% of the harvest. The hot weather at the beginning of August healed the wounds.

By 6 August ground water reserves had diminished significantly and we are hoping to see hydric stress setting in by mid-August, which will be good for grape quality. The grapes started to change colour on 30 July and the mid-point should occur around 10 or 12 August amongst the Merlots.