The 2020 vintage at Château Cantemerle
In mid-March, almost two weeks ahead of the average, the vine buds opened. April, which was very mild, was marked by abundant rainfall, which became almost daily until mid-May. During this period, mildew in all its forms was very aggressive. The vegetative cycle then continued under complicated weather conditions, with frequent rainfall, particularly during flowering. This was followed by some very sunny days, which accelerated Brut vine growth. This year, the vineyard team was particularly available to keep the vineyard up to date!
Véraison began in mid-July, with heat that was sometimes overwhelming and the onset of drought, which slowed down the vegetative cycle. However, a series of fine showers around the fifteenth of August enabled the grapes to start picking again. The first days of September were marked by wide temperature variations between day and night. This phenomenon allows the grapes to perfect their ripeness by softening the cell walls containing the grape's noble compounds, facilitating their Extraction. It's a quality marker little known to the general public, but much appreciated by winemakers.
Finally, harvesting went smoothly from September 14 to 30, despite some stormy rain at the end.
Due to the drought that preceded and accompanied the harvest, yields were around 20% down on the previous year. As for the quality of the cuvées, it is very promising, much like the 2010 and 2016 vintages.
