H A R V E S T

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Report

S E E M O R E

The 2020 winter saw an average of 350mm of rain falling in Casablanca Valley. Much more

than in 2019, but still below the average of the last 30 years. In September we suffered severe

frosts, as a result of which we lost 30-40% of our production in certain sectors of the vineyard.

The season continued with a cool spring and a cloudy summer. January in particular, which

is usually the hottest month for the valley, was abnormally cold with few sunny days.

At the beginning of the summer there were some fucuses of powdery mildew, especially in

Chardonnay, which is the most sensitive variety. This was a consequence of the very dry spring.

At the end of January, we had a rain of 25mm, which is highly unusual for the valley used to

experience very dry summers. This rain, combined with foggy mornings, caused the appearance of

Botrytis cinerea infections on the bunches.

Due to the coolest summer in the last 5 years or so, the ripening was very slow. We harvested the first

Sauvignon Blanc on March 31st, with the bulk of the harvest concentrating in the month of April. At the

beginning of May we picked the last Pinot Noirs. Upon the threat of more rainfalls, we decided to harvest

all the remaining Syrah before the first half of May.

We had low yields, a result of spring frosts and Botrytis damage. Part of the crop had to be left

behind, and a manual selection was carried out both in the vineyard at picking and in the

cellar, sending all the grapes to our selection tables. Only the very best berries were used to

ferment Casas del Bosque wines.

Slow ripeness was ideal to achieve a higher concentration of the aromatic precursors: our Sauvignon Blanc will

once again be of highest quality! Due to the morphology of its clusters, with berries so close together, Pinot Noir

has been the most affected variety by Botrytis outbreaks. The fungus can affect both the aroma and the color of

the wine. Chardonnays look full of potential, with excellent acidity as a result of a cold season. The Syrah of the

highest lines will express an excellent aromatic concentration and the typical freshness of our cool climate.

A prolonged ripening season,

which implied a slower

metabolism of the vines,

giving a high concentration

of aromatic precursors. Great

potential, especially for our

cool climate varieties.

A L B E R T O G U O L O

Winemaker