描述
Vintage Notes: For Saint Julienn, the 2016 vintage was excellent. The growing season began with a mild but wet winter, which was then followed by a particularly shaky spring with deluge after deluge, although temperatures were unusually warm. Although budburst was slightly delayed, the weather then vastly improved in time for flowering, with warm, dry conditions settling in. However, in stark contrast to the extremely wet spring, summer than brought the opposite, with hot arid conditions settling in. The drought-like conditions did stress some vines, particularly younger less well-established plants, while older plants were better able to tap into the water reserves deep in the soil. Fortunately, there was a strong enough difference between night and day temperatures to give the vines a much-needed break and help maintain freshness in the grapes. Showers in September provided a welcome respite from the blistering July and August until a golden autumn set in, which allowed for the harvest to be successfully brought in. Although the growing season had been patchy in places, there was enough rain to ensure the ensuing wines were largely superb. The majority were sophisticated, displaying intense dark fruit married to fresh acidity and aromatics and moderate alcohol, despite the heat of the summer. Although the wines were elegant, they did not shy away from raw power either, ultimately delivering a winning combination. One of the greatest aspects of the vintage was its consistency across the board with most, if not all, vineyards and estates producing wines of an excellent quality. Overall, the 2016 vintage for Saint Julienn was brilliant. Although many wines will be drinking well now, the majority will happily cellar, and the best examples may go on for decades.