Vin Gris 2013

: We had an early bud-break and consistent warm temperatures throughout the summer. In late September, however, Mother Nature threw us a curveball in the form of a six-inch torrential downpour over four forgettable days, referred to in the wine industry as the great ‘monsoon’. Despite the challenge of this unseasonable weather event the fruit held up remarkably well. In hindsight, the monsoon also had its advantages because it represented a welcomed shift in weather patterns. The daytime temperatures dropped significantly after the rains, slowing down the ripening process. This was a much-needed change after having experienced a very warm summer with accelerated ripening. The cooling provided us with another three to four weeks of “hang-time” for our grapes, giving them time to develop more complex flavors. Technical: pH 3.75, TA 7.0 g/L.