Vacqueyras’ Promising 2013s and Ready to Drink 2012s
The 2013 Growing Season
Broadly speaking, the 2013 growing season in Vacqueyras mirrored conditions in neighboring Gigondas, which meant a cold start to the growing season, with a meager flowering not occurring until the middle of June. The fruit ripened very slowly through a cool and mostly dry summer, leading to an extremely late harvest featuring much less fruit than normal. Picking occurred in cool weather and thus the harvest proceeded at a leisurely pace, with ample time for picking carefully—and for eliminating sub-par fruit when it arrived at the winery. While that was bad news for quantity, it turned out to be good news for quality, as the grapes - assuming they were allowed to hang on the vine long enough - could be picked at optimal ripeness and with healthy natural acidity.
One interesting factor in the 2013 equation in Vacqueyras is that all varieties achieved ripeness at almost the same time. Thus many estates were able to carry out their harvests in a long, continuous sweep—as opposed to the normal start-stop-start process required when the early-maturing Grenache is picked well before the other varieties ripen.
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The 2013 growing season in Vacqueyras mirrored conditions in neighboring Gigondas, which meant a cold start to the growing season, with a meager flowering not occurring until the middle of June. The fruit ripened very slowly through a cool and mostly dry summer, leading to an extremely late harvest featuring much less fruit than normal. As for the 2012s, which are now steadily flowing into the market, I find the majority of the wines quite perfumed and fruit-forward, with easygoing tannins that will allow them to be enjoyed soon after release.
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Producers in this Article
- Alain Jaume & Fils
- Arnoux et Fils
- Brotte
- Château des Roques
- Château du Trignon
- Delas Frères
- Domaine Brunely
- Domaine Cabassole
- Domaine Chamfort
- Domaine de Font Sante
- Domaine de la Charbonnière
- Domaine de la Ganse
- Domaine de la Pigeade
- Domaine de la Tourade
- Domaine de la Verde
- Domaine de l'Espigouette
- Domaine de Longue Toque
- Domaine de Montvac
- Domaine des Amouriers
- Domaine de Verquière
- Domaine d'Ouréa
- Domaine du Bois de Saint-Jean
- Domaine du Grand Montmirail
- Domaine du Pesquier
- Domaine du Terme
- Domaine Fontaine du Clos
- Domaine Font Sarade
- Domaine La Bouïssiere
- Domaine La Fourmone
- Domaine La Garrigue
- Domaine La Ligière
- Domaine La Monardière
- Domaine Le Clos des Cazaux
- Domaine Le Colombier
- Domaine Le Couroulu
- Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux
- Domaine Les Ondines
- Domaine Les Semelles de Vent
- Domaine Montbayon
- Domaine Montirius
- Domaine Palon
- Domaine Prat Sura
- Domaine Saint-Pierre
- Famille Perrin
- Famille Tardieu (Tardieu-Laurent)
- Gabriel Meffre
- Gigondas La Cave
- Grandes Serres
- La Ferme des Arnaud
- Lavau
- Le Clos de Caveau
- Les Halos de Jupiter
- Mas des Restanques
- Ogier
- Pierre Amadieu
- Pierre-Henri Morel
- Pierre Vidal
- Roucas Toumba
- Vidal-Fleury
- Vignerons de Caractère
- Vignobles Cheron
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2013
2012