Growing Conditions
***Soil***:
The vineyards are planted on plots of land with different and composite morphological characteristics, as well as with a strong presence of limestone. These areas are also rich in rocks and rather rich in clay and are located at an altitude between 100 and 300 meters above sea level, facing West - South/West.
***Vine Training***:
Cordon spur system
***Planting Density***:
Between 3.600 to 5.500 vine stocks/Ha.
***Climate***:
The climate in the Spring was extremely consistent. Germination in the vineyards and of the individual plants also proved to be very consistent. Favourable weather conditions allowed for optimal flowering. A perfect vegetation cycle, favoured a proper development of the grapes and bunches. Secondary sprouting was not precocious, permitting normal growth control. The summer was very hot, with a good and somewhat hot autumn, in its beginning. We had little rain in the spring, while summer and early autumn were completely dry and hot.
Harvest
The grapes ripened quickly and the temperature during the vine-harvest was very high (35° - 28°C).
Winemaking
Wine-making was easy because not only was the gathering of the grapes done only during cooler hours, but the fermentation vats in the wine cellars were also cooled. A rather lengthy fermentation took place in 70 and 90 hectoliters stainless steel vats for 14 days. Malic acid content of the grapes was low due to the summer and autumn climate. The high pH then encouraged a rapid malic evolution that terminated within the 10th of December.
Aging
Yugoslavian oak casks and Tronçais casks were used for the ageing. The ratio being 60% of the former, and 40% of the latter, with a smaller percentage of Allier. 65% of the wood was new while the remaining 35% had been used once or twice before. The wine remained in casks for 22 months because of its elevated polyphenolic content, although new wood was also employed.
