An early bud break was encouraged by a spring of warm balmy days, which warmed the vineyard soils sooner than anticipated. We then experienced some cooler weather in the beginning of summer, slowing bud break, which had us all thinking “early harvest.” Two short periods of very hot weather, one in July and the other in August, did result in a slightly early harvest. Rapid sugar development, a warmer-than-average season with an extended “hang time”, all came together to produce a wine of excellent floral and fruit character.
