Château Fonroque 2016

The 2016 vintage will be remembered as an unlikely one, marked by contrasts and, ultimately, a rare one. It was characterized by an excessively wet spring followed by a particularly dry summer. It all began under favorable conditions with early budbreak. This head start was quickly erased, as the months from March through June were rather cool and very wet. Downy mildew became the primary concern.
Amid this threatening situation for the vine’s overall growth cycle, the skies cleared for ten days, leading to rapid and complete flowering. By June 21, summer had arrived, bringing heat and, above all, extreme dryness throughout the season. The rains on September 13, which were necessary to relieve stress on the vines, allowed us to look forward to the harvest with confidence.