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Vintages
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1999 vintage
All year long, the vine grew in good conditions.
The main vegetative steps took place early: opening out of the buds (April 6th to 10th), flowering (June 10th to 20th), ripening (August 15th to 25th).
Summer storms obliged wine growers to be very vigilant concerning the strong pressures of mildew and worms. But measured pest/disease treatments permitted a healthy foliage.
Hot weather from the end of August to the middle of September with mild temperatures during the day and night speeded up the maturation process and developed very healthy grapes.
The official grape harvest date began from September 13th for the Pinot Gris in Reuilly and September 27th for Châteaumeillant. Sancerre, Menetou-Salon and the Coteaux du Giennois started the harvest on September 22nd.
It rained on September 20th with a hail storm over the Sancerrois area on September 24th. The parcels which were very damaged more or less seriously were harvested very quickly and fortunately the grapes were ripe. This will not affect the quality of the wines.
Even though the rain disrupted the curse of the grape harvest, 1999 is a good vintage.
The degree of sugar in the grapes was high and they remained healthy until the last days of the harvest. The musts were aromatic and sweet. They presented all the hallmarks of good quality.
In the main the alcoholic fermentations were good. A surprising regularity in the change of sugars into alcohol by the yeasts was noticed. The temperatures of fermentation for white and red wines were moderate and easy to stabilize.
White wines
Good depth, tender and supple with elegant aromas and very fruity. Excellent expression of the terroir diversity.
Red wines
Nice colour, bright ruby with sometimes slight purplish tinges. The tannins are measured, the wines are more or less concentrated according to the origins and the wine growers’ choice of wine making methods. The wines express very typical aromas of red berries.