![]() In general, though, growers are as happy with their 2019 harvest as they were with the 2018 harvest indeed dry whites may be even better in 2019 than they were in 2018. This posed problems for some growers with sandy soils (as in parts of Chinon), and heat spikes in late June and July caused some sunburn issues. Late June, here as elsewhere, saw a switch to hot, dry weather – and in contrast to other regions of France, the Loire valley had a dry August, too many Loire growers saw no rain at all between the second half of June and the second half of September. The cold and rainy conditions lasted through flowering in June, though, with most growers reporting at least some losses due to coulure. ![]() ![]() The worst affected regions were Muscadet and Anjou further east, the frosts were less severe, with little damage in Pouilly-Fumé - and Sancerre emerging unscathed. Late-season noble rot made a range of fine sweet wines possible this year, too.Ī mild late winter was followed by a long cold spell in April and May with a least five episodes of frost between April 4th and May 6th. 2020 is an excellent vintage throughout the Loire valley for both dry whites and reds: the wines have concentration, freshness and poise. Harvest began in mid-August for Crémant wines, while for most wines it began after some welcome rains at the end of the month, in fine September weather. June was disappointing, with hail affecting Reuilly, Menetou-Salon and Chateaumeillant July began cool, but turned very warm August was hot. Late April and May remained very warm, with flowering in early May (two weeks ahead of the ten-year average). March and April were alternately warm and cool, with budbreak around April 5th, eight days in advance of the ten-year average. Winter 2019-20 was the warmest ever recorded in the Loire valley, with periods of intense rain that left soils fully replenished. The intensity and vivacity of the best white wines puts them a notch above the supple, fruity red wines. Fine September and October weather helped salvage the harvest. There was another warm spell in mid-August but the rest of the month remained cool and challenging. Flowering went well during a brief interlude of warmth in June, but June and July were otherwise cold and wet, and mildew caused further damage. In the Nantes region and in parts of Anjou, losses of 70% to 90% were common, but all regions (including Sancerre, often protected from frosts by its steep slopes) were affected. The weather pattern of the 2021 season in the Loire Valley reflected that of other northern French regions – though the frost problems of early April (and, in parts of the Loire, mid-April and early May too) were even more crippling here than elsewhere.
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