Harvest Reports
2002
"A Proper Rest Period"
The winter of 2001 was very cold with enough rain for a proper rest period for the vineyards.
The 2002 growing season started well with warm conditions already present during April, which produced a very fast growing season. Until then the rainfall was enough. Since the middle of May the rain stayed away until one day before the day of harvest.
The vineyards were very healthy and so too the grapes. Treatment was kept to a minimum as conditions were unsuitable for any diseases. The ripening of all cultivars was very even, a result of the season and also due to Capion’s ‘vendage vert’ policy.
All vineyards needed only one week of sunshine to mature for optimum ripeness when disaster moved into the region. Rain, the likes of which we have never seen, came down in no time (160 mm in one day). Thereafter we had more rain in smaller quantities but otherwise cloudy cool conditions.
The vintage was still in a healthy condition and we waited one week for the vineyards to dry out before starting to harvest on the 30th August with chardonnay and finished on the 12th September with the cabernet sauvignon.
The decision was to pick all the grapes before botrytis affected the vineyards, especially the red grapes. Because of a very low production of only 3 tons / ha we managed to harvest fairly good quality for this year.
The fermentation went well and the analysis shows a very low pH, which produces very healthy wines. On the other side we do have more natural acid than normal and the malolactic fermentation is long. All in all we have a 2002 vintage, albeit very small - 30% less than a normal vintage. These wines are very fruity, of good color, and very feminine without being too heavy. The duration of skin contact was shorter to ensure a nice tannin balance.
Great care will be taken to select wines after barrel maturation to secure the quality of our Capion wines.
White Wines
Clean, young and green in colour. Flavours of each cultivar are very typical with a well balanced long, fruity after taste.
Red Wines
Deep and dark in colour with fine tannins, very clean (low volatile acid) with dark fruity flavours predominating.
Cellar secrets: The first attempts to create a blend for Apollonia (chardonnay, viognier and rousanne) went down well in the market. The second blend for vintage 2000, however, is going even better and production is very low. Our strategy is to increase future production and from the quality aspect this is quite possible.
Certain opinions received from our agents about the 1999 vintage red wines seemed to be more personal. After a tasting for the sommeliers of Les Jardin de Sans, (Michelin restaurant) I am delighted to learn that amongst the wines judged to be the finest from the region, our Capion wines are highly recommended and enjoyed for their consistent quality.
It is very important to enjoy wines (both red & white) at the correct temperature, from the correct wine glasses, together with the correct food. Room temperature and decanting can be very misleading, if not used and understood correctly!
Wine can be very exciting when served at 1oC lower than what it should be because by warming up during conversation at an event the flavours are more upfront and so the wine becomes more balanced and rounder during the tasting.
This way your client or guests gets to know and appreciate the wine as it is in the bottle and what they can expect at home when opened.
To recommend any personal favourite at this moment is very difficult because the selection of Capion wines are designed to go with a complete lunch or dinner. Start with the Apollonia as an aperitif, then Le Sorbier with a light starter, followed by Fiona or Adrianus with a heavier dish, next La Garenne with the main course and finish off with cheese together with the Le Juge.
You can also do it on a split namely to have a dinner with the family wines only (Apollonia, Fiona and Adrianius) and / or a dinner with the ‘Selection du Cardinal’ (Le Sorbier, La Garenne and Le Juge) both are excellent ways in which to enjoy these wines.
In the end, it does not matter which way you go, please enjoy the wines and consult your nearest Agent for more info.
Bon Courage
Nico
