A mild and dry January was followed by an even milder February (3.2°C above normal), then a more normal March, with high rainfall during the first 10 days. Budbreak arrived a week ahead of 2019, on 30th March in the earliest sectors, putting 2020 in line with 2014 and 2017.
April was hot, especially the second part (2.1°C above normal) and dry. Only 8mm of rain fell between 11th March and 27th April. The first half of May saw 50% more rainfall than normal. The month finished warm (1.2°C above average) and dry.
Flowering began very early, on 19th-22nd May in the earliest plots, amid a heat spike. Cooler and wetter days interrupted flowering, especially in the earlier sectors which were by then in the middle of flowering. This caused some millerandage (small, thick-skinned berries). Some damage was also inflicted by the wind at the beginning of flowering.
At this point, the only earlier recent vintages were 2007 and 2011. 2020 was equivalent to 1997. The first half of June was very cool (2.4°C below average) and wet (twice the usual rainfall). The last days of June were warmer and drier. From 24th June, maximum temperatures exceeded 30°C, causing some sunburn.
The first half of July saw roughly normal temperatures but was about 20% drier than normal. Véraison (colour change) began on 15th July. The final days of the month saw some rain and temperatures 2.8°C above normal. Some grapes were scorched by very high temperatures at month-end, close to 40°C on 31st July.
August started very hot: 2.5°C above average, with a peak at 36-37°C on 8-9th. This resulted in some shrinking of the grapes. It was largely dry, excepting some thunderstorms. Harvest began amid temperate conditions on 22nd August, ending on 1st September.
GUY SEDDON
FINE WINE BUYER
MARCH 2022