Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vintage 1995

At Châteauneuf du Pape, the exceptional quality of the harvest favored by the breath of the mistral promises a great vintage 1995.

The 1994-95 campaign was quite contrasted in terms of climate. The rainfall balance shows a very rainy autumn and a particularly dry winter. The appearance of the first leaves coincides in April with a period of heavy rains. However, during the month of May and especially the month of June a new phase of drought settles. The months of July and August are close to normal, which allows a balanced diet of the vine.

As every year, the month of September is decisive for quality. The harvest ban took place on September 15. The harvest begins slowly, slightly disturbed by rain during the night of September 18 to 19. This one is quickly forgotten thanks to the mistral that installs its protective breath for a dozen days. This windy period will prove very beneficial by avoiding any moisture and all the morning fog. The good health of the grapes is preserved. In addition to this protective effect, the mistral will allow a concentration of sugars in the berries.

The white grape varieties, roussanne and grenache, are harvested in priority because of their early maturity. For the reds, the syrahs are the subject of the first picking; for the grenache (75% of encépagement in red) the winemakers will wait for the development of the overmaturity favored by the dry and windy weather.

It is still too early to make a precise comment on the wines, we can already note the good maturity of the harvest which should give fleshy and rich wines characteristics of the appellation.