CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE 2019
A SUPERB
VINTAGE, HIGH IN COLOR AND BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED
After
the many rains that marked the spring of 2018, the 2019 vintage confirms a
return normal spring rainfall (96 mm against 280 mm in 2018).
Bad
memories of last year's mildew attacks prompted winegrowers to be extremely
vigilant from the start of the season. However, phytosanitary pressure remained
almost non-existent. We will remember in revenge for the heat wave at the end of
June as well as the excessively dry and hot summer.
The
harvest started early in the season in order to harvest the early grape
varieties before they were too ripe. They took place in the greatest serenity.
The rains of September 18 induced a increase in juice yields as well as a
rebalancing of musts. The perfect sanitary state of the grapes has allowed to
produce in 2019 very colorful, unctuous and generous red Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
The whites are fat, ample and endowed with beautiful lengths in the mouth.
A HOT
AND VERY DRY YEAR
The
autumn-winter rains (460 mm) launched the vegetative period and endowed the soil
with good water reserves. The months of April and May were relatively cool,
marked by periods of active growth followed by slowdowns, a phenomenon that can
cause dripping. Fortunately, this was not the case in 2019, except very
sporadically. The growing season was very dry (moderate rains in spring, very
low in summer) with only 158 mm of precipitation (against 530 mm in 2018, 230 mm
in 2016 and 185 mm in 2017).
This
period was also very hot, seven days out of ten exceeding 30°C between June 1
and September 15.At the end of June, a week of heat waves settled in the region,
with a maximum reached on June 28 (44.3°C at Carpentras).
Faced
with these climatic excesses, the foliage behaved rather well, the Rhône
corridor having been spared by the “hair dryer” effect which affected
certain southern vineyards. The water deficit has rather impacted
the size of the berries which later remained very small. The clusters did
not truly close until end of veraison thanks to a few rare summer rains. Under
these conditions, phytosanitary pressure has was almost non-existent.
At
harvest, the grapes were in good health, but the juice yield was quite low. The
rain of 15 mm on September 18 was welcome and allowed the Grenaches to reach
their phenolic maturity. The result resulted in beautiful thick skins, intense
colors and a very beautiful aromatic purity.
Yields
are slightly up on the average for recent years.
COLOR,
SILKY AND GREAT POTENTIAL
White Châteauneuf-du-Pape
have exotic notes of peach and citrus. In the mouth they are ample and of good
length. The reds, notably made up of Grenache, required macerations quite long.
They present aromas of ripe fruit, raspberry, candied ginger and for the Syrah,
menthol notes. On the palate, the tannic structure is elegant, saline, with good
concentration and the acidity remains discreet. We note very good results on the
blends of grape varieties from the maceration.
We can
now already anticipating a very good aging potential for the 2019 vintage.
The
Federation December 2019