Provence | 2013 vintage
In many cases, the "vintage effect" is less marked in Provence and Corsica than in other French wine regions. Here, the weather is generally warm and fine all year long and the only real risk is heavy rain just before or during the harvest season. 2013 turned out to be an exception however, and the year in Provence was marked by a number of episodes, rare enough in themselves and that accumulate even less frequently. Cold temperatures and rain in the spring, hailstorms in Aix-en-Provence and the Haut-Var region in the summer and unseasonably cool conditions in September all combined, making it much more difficult than usual for red grapes to ripen. As in Bordeaux, the most skilful winegrowers avoided over-extraction and worked on producing light, delicate, fruity wines with a fresh aroma, to be drunk young. All appellations in Provence are in the same situation, with Les Baux and Bandol performing above the average.
White wines have fared much better even though they only represent a tiny section of Provence's wine output (except for in appellation areas such as Cassis, Bellet and Palette). These wines have a fresh, clean aroma that will please fans of Provence whites with lots of character.
Corsica was much less affected by climatic conditions in 2013 than Provence. Here as well, the vintage was late to develop and red wines from the south (Ajaccio, Sartène, Porto-Vecchio, Figari) have generally been more successful than wines from the north. The winners though are white wines, and again, especially those produced in the south. Their profile is slightly different from in previous years, as these wines are fresher and livelier with a more limited aroma due to the lack of maturity. However, drunk young, these white wines make a very pleasant accompaniment to a meal.