2023 Estate Rosé

Another mild, nearly snowless winter led to a warm April that stirred the vines from their sleep a little early. May and June remained quite cool, dry, and sunny, if not for wildfire smoke from the Canadian Sheild hanging in the upper atmosphere for weeks, impacting air quality and slowing early season canopy growth. As berries set and bunches closed, the smoke cleared and high summer arrived. July was hot and humid with typical afternoon thunderstorms giving thirsty vines the occasional drink, before milder weather returned in August. Slow, even ripening led to intense flavors in the fruit and picking began in earnest as things warmed up again in September, The weather remained perfect and everything seemed to ripen at the same time, but below average yields made harvest manageable. Weekend rains dictated the picking schedule for the rest of the season and reds finished their ripening in a sunny, cool, and breezy October. In the end, 2023 in the Outer Coastal Plain was a fairly typical growing season that produced complex, fruity, and highly aromatic whites and balance,d lighter-bodied reds with good ripeness and fruit intensity.