Maconnais
Vintage 2003
The Scorching temperatures hit Burgungy as well! Burgundians cannot recall such an early harvest since 19th Century! End of June, with a dry and hot weather, announced early harvests: they were actually planned for the beginning of September. At the end, we started harvesting on 16th August and finished 4th September 2003. This is an exceptional vintage that nodoby will ever see except in case of a unset weather. In 2003 the grapes were ripe and warm. So as to control the heat on the grapes we could only harvest from 6 o?clock in the morning to 1 pm and our thermoregulated vats were very useful. Indeed, high temperatures can trigger off the alcoholic fermentation too early during the clarification (clarification of the must before the alcoholic fermentation) and can ?entail bad taste?in the finished product. So it was mega hot, but all the work done in the vineyards of La Soufrandi?re and the selected ones by BRET BROTHERS permitted to obtain healthy and well-balanced grapes. We?ll never get tired of saying that the making of a Great Wine starts in the vine. Ploughing of the soil, old vines, debudding, respect of the plant? are essential. Finally, our 2003 wines have the characteristics of 2003 (maturity, rich) but we are also pleased with the sugar-acidity balance, the fruitness and each terroir (we didn?t acidify any of our wines ? as usual) is expressed in every bottle.