What could we be still dreaming of? To call this vintage exceptional is not even enough, given that the term is so common. It is rather as unprecedented that we can remember this magnificent harvest.

What are then the reasons for all this euphoria?

As in all natural productions, the meteorology is the key to success. So, the hot and dry conditions of September, even though they have dried up the rivers, have been very well adapted to the balance of the vine and the grapes after which they were looking.

Quite early in August, the sugar content has built up in all the grape varieties, reaching very high averages. In the Chasselas, the 80° on the Oechsle scale were a common thing; the Pinots went beyond the 100° on the Oechsle scale, joined by the Gamays which remarkably expressed themselves. The berries have concentrated, thus staying ropy and safe from any attack of rottenness. Even the hailed vines have dressed their wounds and caught up with their lateness by getting rapidly to ripeness with the inferior parts of harvest that were left to them.

It is on the 22nd of September that the serious harvests began in Nyon with the Pinots which were already at 100° on the Oechsle scale. Then the harvest followed with the Gamays and the Chasselas. The harvesters, wearing only t-shirts, have had absolutely no problem of organisation, as the dry weather allowed to harvest one by one these golden marbles in ideal conditions.

The Merlots, Cabernets Francs and Gamarets have brought up the rear of this festival after twenty or so days of harvest which had met absolutely no drop of rain. This is something to infuriate even the most optimistic forecasters...

Concerning the wine production, some fear that the lack of acidity would be a limiting factor regarding the preserve of this vintage. They can be reassured: the values are good and the balance is remarkable in the first tasting approaches. For the reds, the colours will be dark ruby and the structure will be full and ropy. The high sugar content will give powerful wines with rich and silky tannins.

The harvests are in accordance with the previsions on La Côte. The hail that hit a part of the region of Morges on the 23rd of July has had no real influences on the qualities. On the contrary, the ripeness was remarkable and the left berries were most concentrated. However, the missing volumes are 15% to 30% inferior to the usual harvests.

The consumer can rejoice in the coming of this vintage, which will fulfil his or her highest expectations: it determinedly situates itself under the sign of excellence of the wines from the canton of Vaud, in its great diversity of soils and grape varieties.

While the most part of the 2008 harvest has now been brought in and the musts are already fermenting in the cellars, it is possible to draw some cheerful first results of this 2008 vintage. Indeed, although it came slightly later than those of the last ten years, the final –i.e. the maturation period and the harvesting period- took place in excellent conditions.

Following the example of the extraordinary colours of the forests’ and hills’ foliages during the last few days, the harvest of the year 2008 is as colourful as aromatic. The sugar contents are equivalent, not to say superior, to those of last year for the white grape varieties, especially for the Chasselas, the main variety of La Côte (between 72° and 76° on the Oechsle scale).

Balanced, fruity and fleshy musts are the results of this patient maturation and of a very sound harvest.

Under the influence of the windy and dry weather that we had at the end of the month of September and during all October, the berries have concentrated, with the consequence that the volumes are slightly inferior to what was predicted.

The 200 hectares-odd of these grapes varieties show a promising and diversified way for the red wines. The Garanoirs and the Gamarets have beautiful structures. The Pinot Noirs have intense raspberry-like fruity tastes, but unfortunately their harvest is relatively weak. The Gamays are light and fruity, with very interesting spicy notes. The specialities, such as the Chardonnays, the Pinot Gris, the Dorals and the Gewürztraminers, are very refined, with a quite beautiful vivacity and remarkable sugar contents. As for the Merlots, they have exceeded the 100° on the Oechsle scale.

The 2008 harvest will give wines of great delicacy and elegant distinction. The well-balanced acidity and the mature side of the golden berries will proudly show the expression of our exceptional soils.

While everyone becomes conscious of the climatic evolution, there are years during which the vineyards take advantage of it!

In 2007, the flower has passed very quickly, with an important advance due to the hot month of April. After a little gloomy month of July and a hot month of August, everything was ready in September for a beautiful maturation… The only missing element was the bise (a cold and dry wind blowing from the north), which arrived finally and created a skilful alchemy between the hot temperatures of the day and the cool ones of the night, and thus allowed the sugars to accumulate in the berries. An irreproachable sanitary state permitted the picking of the grapes at the perfect moment for each of the wanted maturation.

And it is so that 2007 became a magnificent vintage, similar to the 2000, the 2002 or the 2005. The fermentations have been slow and calm, assuring then that the aromas be preserved, and that a beautiful balance be created between the fruits and the building structures.

WHITE WINES:

They smell of honey, white pears and acacia’s flowers. They are supple, well-built, fruity and mineral.
A magnificent vintage!

RED WINES:

They have a dark purple colour. They present notes of blackcurrant and red fruits to the nose. They are in the first phase of tasting, loose and supple; they have a beautiful spicy and clovy balance with silky but still young tannins. It is a concentration of flavours for well-ageing wine.

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