Provence | 2020 vintage
Everything was early in Provence in 2020. After a very mild winter, the warmest recorded since 1900, spring saw a lot of rain and an episode of heavy frost at the end of March (the temperatures plummeted to -7°C inland) which had mixed effects across the region. High temperatures settled across the vineyards during July and August. However, the vegetive cycle was not particularly slowed by this and harvests took place very early, from 15th August, about a week or 10 days earlier than usual.
There are not many rosés, which make up most of the production (more than 90%), available from 2020 now as they are usually consumed in the months following their release. Having said that, making them is more technical than the process for whites and reds which means that it is a lot easier to attain a standard level of quality. The region’s white wines are promising, with distinct aromas and well-balanced palates on the whole. The cuvées containing Rolle have added liveliness. Power and freshness are characteristic of the red wines from 2020 which have attractive ageing potential.
Corsican winemakers were not spared during the 2020 vintage. After a very mild and dry winter, the vines started growing early. The rainy spring meant that the threat of mildew and powdery mildew were high, but they could mainly be kept under control. While the harvests ended up being less premature than expected, the grapes contained less sugar and a reduced amount of acidity than in 2019, all while being beautifully balanced. The white wines have a wonderful freshness about them, while the red wines offer ripe tannins and juicy fruit.
