Provence | 2016 vintage
2016 in Provence will be marked by the unprecedented drought that gripped the region. While the climate here is generally quite dry, 2016 saw record breaking water shortages. White wines (not that this region produces very many) and rosés were particularly affected, especially those made from younger vines whose roots could not bury deep enough into the soil. 2016 was therefore a somewhat dismal year that brought with it water stress and badly matured grapes.
As for the reds, wines made from (the often old) Mourvèdre and Grenache vines fared better than the whites, especially in Bandol (the only area in the region that produces an important amount of red). The reds from Bandol will be fresh with some acidity and good concentration but will not keep as long as they would in other vintages.
Corsica managed to escape the worst of 2016's excessive weather and, on the whole, the reds, whites and rosés are of a good quality and fairly consistent throughout the appellations. The wines here are generally well-balanced and somewhat fresher and more delicate than their 2015 counterparts. This is especially noticeable in the reds and you would do well to drink these young.
