Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vintage 2008

2008’ harvest took place under good conditions and ended in the middle of October.

Despite two stormy periods in mid September and thanks to the Mistral and the fresh temperatures that occured: good climatic conditions helped winemakers staggering the harvest until reaching great phenolic and technologic maturities of the grapes.

On a technical point, this is a very important quality factor for wine.

It aims at finding the exact potential of each grape of the AOC Chateauneuf-du-Pape, without putting aside their own pedoclimatic specificities.

Contrary to the previous vintages, the harvest of Grenache and Mourvèdre began on the last days of september instead of August. This is not an unusual time to harvest if we well remember the middle of the 80’s.

Like in every wine region of France, 2008’ rainy spring brought a heavy mildiou pressure and coulure. Consequently, we see an important fall of the yield: the volume for 2008 is 84.000 hls for a production potential of 110.000hls on the 3160 ha of the AOC.

Tasted during the first days of January 2009, red wines showed fresh fruit aromas (strawberry, cherry), spicy notes ( grey pepper, liquorish, aniseed) with density, savour, straightness, elegant tannins, supple but alive!

White wines showed almond and cherry blossoms, nice volume, richness and a fresh good balanced ending.

In 2009 Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC will be 80 years old ! Happy Birthday!