The 2011 Vintage
The climatic conditions
The first months of 2011 show a relative mildness that will contribute to a reawakening of the vegetation at the end of March. The average temperatures in April are mostly over target and very hot: on April 3, 10.5 °C in the morning and 29 °C in the afternoon.
These exceptional climatic conditions lead to a quick development of the vine and to an early bud burst. The beginning of the vegetative cycle of the vine is among the earliest and the fastest from the last 17 years with more than 3 weeks fast and noteworthy values in Vosne Romanée for example:
- April 5 B stage : woolly bud
- April 7 C stage : Green tip bud. Minimale temperature 10.5°C - maximale 31.5°C
- April 8 D stage : Rosette of leaf tips visible
- April 11 E stage : Leaf separated from shoot tip
- April 19 F stage : inflorescence clear, 5 leaves separated. Minimale temperature 8.5°C - maximale 21°C
On April the rainfall accumulation is particularly low with only 18.5 mm throughout the month. Mai shows higher temperatures than usually and is very dry. At the end of May thundery showers will improve the water situation even if large disparities are observed in plots and fear for high water stress. The mid-flowering stage is observed from the last decade of May and takes place only in a few days on the majority of vineyards. The full flowering stage is reached on 23 May in Vosne Romanée.
The mildness will persist throughout June and the earliness from bud break is kept until the end of June - beginning of July till bunch closure stage. The veraison stage (change of colour of the grape berries) is reached from July 15 on the majority of our plots.
A period of unsettled nature of the weather, alternating thundery showers and cool temperatures will continue throughout July.
August is also punctuated with warm and cold periods. Despite the capricious weather of the summer, the grapes ripening is progressing regularly with a very good quality balance of sugar and acidity. The physiological maturation came at the end of August with good sugars levels. The 2011vintage is the third vintage of the 21st century and the sixth vintage since the 18th century for which the harvest began in August (1719, 1822, 1893, 2003 and 2007).
The harvests
The harvesting begins at the Domaine on August 31 at Pernand Vergelesses Savigny Les Beaune and 1er Cru « Les Narbantons » on pleasant and warm temperatures that exceed the seasonal norms in September. The picking continues on September 1st at Beaune 1er Cru « Les Avaux » and Bourgogne Rouge in Côte de Nuits, the next day at Vosne Romanée, Nuits St Georges 1er Cru « Les Boudots » and Bourgogne Passetoutgrain.
The week-end of September 3 and 4 were spend harvesting the Grands Crus : Grands-Echezeaux, Echezeaux « Vieille Vigne » and Nuits St Georges « Les Plateaux ».
Monday 5 was devoted to harvesting the Crus of Fixin, Fixin « Les Fondemens », Vougeot 1er Cru and Chambolle-Musigny as well as the Vosne Romanée 1er Cru « Les Orveaux », Richebourg, Clos de Vougeot and Gevrey Chambertin on September 6. We finished in the Côte de Nuits on Wednesday 7 at Vosne Romanée 1er Cru « Les Petits Monts », « Les Suchots » and Marsannay « Clos du Roy ». After ten days we harvested the Hautes-Côtes vineyards on Thursday 15 at the Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits Rouge « Les Dames Huguettes » on September 16 at the Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits Red « La Croix » and white « Le Prieuré ».
The wines
The 2011 vintage remains outstanding and unique by its earliness and singular climate. The white wines are nice rounded with citrus fruit and white flowers aromas. The red wines are characterized by beautiful rubies and brilliant colors. They are as delicacies, round and fruity. The aromatic range is particularly varied and suave. The wines are well balanced with a beautiful freshness as well as very fin elegant and soft tannins.
The identity of the Burgundy « terroirs » expresses with the most beautiful style on this harmonious vintage where elegance mingles with delicacies for our greatest pleasure.