The winter of 2007-2008 was cold, dry and windy.
February was unusually mild. So much so that the vegetation started to wake up. In the early sectors, the vine buds began to burst.
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From March, we returned in a cold and wet cycle that did not leave us until July 14th.
The month of April was cool and wet (129 mm of rain).
The month of May, with temperatures slightly below normal, sees successive waves of rain and thunderstorms with a weekly frequency (122 mm of rain).
The month of June is always cool and wet (41 mm of rain), however, the wind often sets in and cleans the vineyard.
July is divided into two parts. Before July 14, the weather is cool and wet (63 mm of rain), then the second half is very hot.
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During all this cool and wet spring season, the pressure of diseases of the vine (downy mildew and powdery mildew) was very important. The treatments of the vine had to be renewed frequently, in spite of the difficulties to enter the vineyard because of the sodden soils, not to allow the time to the diseases to be implanted then to spread.
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The month of August is scorching in the first fortnight. This period of good weather was crucial in allowing the grapes to evolve quickly in maturity.
The storms arrive from August 11 and bring heavy rains (83 mm of rain). However, it continues to be hot and the maturity continues to evolve favorably.
The beginning of September is copiously watered by a succession of storms (213 mm of rain). Fortunately, in our vineyards with small yields, the grapes are already ripe and the qualities are already acquired. It is only a question of taking advantage of the periods of calm to harvest as quickly as possible of the superb, perfectly ripe grapes, taking care to let the bunches drip.
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The harvest began on September 2nd and ended on September 17th at Domaine de l'Amauve.
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In conclusion, 2008 is a difficult vintage where the correctness of the decisions of the vinegrower throughout the cycle of vegetation of the vine was capital. This is a winemaker’s vintage.
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Yields were low in 2008, due to the fruit set on the Grenache in spring, and because the grapes did not grow in size normally during the ripening cycle.
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The precocity in the maturation as well as speed of harvest were very important parameters in such a difficult vintage, These parameters having been perfectly mastered at Domaine de l'Amauve. By the way, we were able to achieve a very good vintage.
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The rains continued intensely after the harvest and until the end of the year. The total precipitation reached 1300 mm in 2008 on Séguret. By comparison, the 2005, 2006 and 2007 vintages were only 550 mm annually. This situation allows us to be confident for the next vintage as soil water reserves have been restored.