Vintage Summary 2003

Perhaps what we would call a more typical growing season, though positively balmy compared to 2004 and 2005. Very cold weather in spring resulted in slow spring growth yet amazingly frost damage free. The warm and settled December provided excellent conditions for a successful flowering resulting in a large crop. This was followed by a typical warm to hot February and March (very dry), which evened growth and ripening. An unusual series of frosts in early to mid-April slowed ripening allowing hang time without the usual rapid sugar accumulation we can sometimes experience. Harvest started on April 6. Again a saignee (Vin Gris) was performed to re-balance the skin to juice ratio. The 2003 vintage can be quite easily compared to 2001 and 1999.