2016 VINTAGE

Cool temperatures and relatively dry weather in late summer produced a very smooth, well-balanced, and delicious vintage, reminiscent of 2010.

WEATHER DURING THE GROWING SEASON

Despite a very wet, mild winter and cool, gloomy spring, the size of the prospective crop looked very promising.
Flowering took place during a small window of fine, sunny weather
between the 10th and 21st of June, marking the sudden arrival of summer. The vines grew under ideal conditions: After a dry July with record-breaking sunshine, maximum August temperatures remained at around 30°C throughout the entire month. A heatwave at the end of August set the stage for early ripening. The dry month of September prevented botrytis from forming. Aside from the ill-fated 2012 vintage, for the first time in thirty years, Château de Fargues was unable to start picking in September.

HARVEST

A storm on the 30th of September finally triggered the spread of noble rot, signalling the beginning of the harvest on the 4th of October. However, it was not until the 20th of October that the harvest was in full swing. Over two thirds of the crop were harvested in just five days with the last few grapes picked around All Saints' Day.

THE WINE

Area under vine: 20.25 hectares Harvest: By hand, in 4 passes Duration of fermentation: 3 to 5 weeks, in oak barrels with indigenous yeast Production: 22,000 bottles Fermentation: 40% new oak barrels and 60% 18-month-old barrels Barrel ageing: 30 months