Autumn 2015 was mild under grey skies… There were rare frosts in March 2016. The water table was not able to replenish itself. End of April 2016 will remain etched in our memory due to the unprecedented black frost on the 27th. On that morning, the dampness in the air and the ever so slightly sub-zero temperatures covered the new buds in a thin layer of ice; some buds with two leaves already opened. That morning there was also strong sunshine… and the vegetation trapped in its cocoon of ice literally burned/scorched… The current of cold air coming down from the Morvan followed scrupulously the meanders of the hinterland coombs before spilling onto the mid-slope vine parcels of the Côte… May was very rainy and on the 13th a hailstorm focussed on the lower slope appellations…

Thereafter, the weather was more clement and vine growth actively recommenced. Mild, damp weather and the trauma already endured by the vines facilitated the development of an outbreak of mildew that was also unprecedented: leaves, shoots, already forming grape bunches were more or less affected… Vine flowering occurred around 20th June and, fortunately, lovely summer weather thereafter was to limit the already significant damage. All parcels developed magnificent vegetation but sometimes with little or even very little fruit crop. Grape ripening took place in ideal conditions. The harvest began on 24th September and ended on the 29th, in good conditions.

After serious sorting on the vines, the grapes that went to vat were very good quality and whole bunch vinification proved to be a natural solution. Extractions were gentle. In the end, wines barrelled lost no time and malolactic fermentations were set in motion. In early 2017, Malic acid had gone already. Rigorous analysis of the cuvees revealed good balance and good potential in these wines and this allowed very significant limiting of sulphur additions. In conclusion, the 2016s show good concentration, pure and deep aromatic qualities, with crunchy body and well-defined structure. Energy is not lacking but shows certain restraint. One may hope these wines will be approachable in their youth, but the year following bottling will confirm this… Or not…