2012 is a record vintage. Indeed, here in Chavanay, we registered 0 mm of rain in February – unheard of since 1949 – and 259 mm in July – the highest level in more than 50 years. The vineyard had to adapt to these abrupt changes in climate and to the couple of hail storms endured by our Saint-Joseph parcels during the week of the 14th of July.
Fortunately, the month of August and September were once again magnificent, thereby allowing the grapes to fully ripen. The various grape varieties were picked from the 20th of September through to the 20th of October. They all shared good phenolic maturity and an alcohol content often below 13°.
The white wines are extremely aromatic and the reds are very digest and flavorsome. As they are very fruity, they had to be gently matured to preserve this immediate pleasure.