Provence | 2021 vintage
Provence feared for the worst in 2021, but everything ended well. Following a particularly dry winter, two highly unusual weather episodes marked spring. The region suffered two days of unprecedented frost, in some cases affecting areas that hadn’t seen frost for half a century, not to mention a great deal of rain. Thankfully, conditions returned to normal during the summer, allowing the grapes to ripen well. Production levels were ultimately in line with that of a typical year. The quality of the wines is entirely satisfactory, with dazzling rosés, bursting with aromas and freshness. The whites are wonderfully fleshy, revealing well-defined, seductive aromas. As for the red wines, they display a fresher, smoother profile than in previous years, offering delightful notes of chiselled red fruit, sustained by fairly moderate tannins, which makes them very easy to digest.
Despite the frost spell that also hit hard at the beginning of April, especially in the south of the island and in parts of the inland areas, Corsica did not subsequently suffer from heavy rainfall. To the contrary, Corsica endured a prolonged drought for almost four months from mid-May to the end of September. Yield losses were exacerbated by disease outbreaks, notably mildew, and insect infestations such as the citrus fruit borer, though they proved to be moderate, amounting to around 15% less than in 2020. The wines display excellent quality, with the whites exhibiting a fine freshness achieved by a fine level of acidity. The reds are, on the whole, elegant and display no shortage of concentration (with the exception, perhaps, of a few Sciacarellus). Delightful wines with a classic profile.
