Union Vinicole Du Liban

Harvest Reports

	2005 was a tough year, the most humid in nearly half a century. The winter was long and wet and this impacted negatively on the lower lying areas of the Bekaa, where the grapes took longer to ripen. In other areas, the grapes raced to maturity - the first picking took place on August 18 and the last on October 24. The time span was phenomenal and reflected the various terroir of the Bekaa. However, any interesting results of this abnormal summer were wiped out by excessive mildew that especially affected the red grapes. It was a good year for the whites, which showed good acidity and nice floral aromas. The reds had a mixed year. The traditional early ripeners - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah - all ripened nicely but were hit by the mildew, while the Cinsault and Grenache were helped by a cooler September that allowed them to compensate for the humidity.
	2004 was a mixed year - high and low sugar content, slow and fast fermentation but always with medium acidity. It was a pattern which is witnessed once every ten years in Lebanon: a winter with snow on the mountains until March, a spring that runs into June and a very mild, gentle summer, conditions that allow the grapes ample time to mature. At the beginning of the harvest, the grapes had low sugar content and medium acidity levels, but a sudden heatwave two weeks later, changed everything, producing grapes with higher sugar but still maintaining medium acidity. It was as if there were two harvests in the same year and the fermentation was affected accordingly. Generally, grapes picked in the first two weeks of the harvest were fruity, round and mellow, with floral aromas, grapes, although Cabernet Sauvignon was different: it was powerful, intense and concentrated, leathery, with red fruits. "Second phase" grapes, especially Carignan and Cinsault, developed more of a red fruit character in smell and taste.
	2003 saw rainiest winter in 15 years which was followed by a 10-day heatwave in May, which contributed, to a good equilibrium between acidity and sugar content. There was an exceptional concentration of phenol compounds due to dry weather in September. The whites were aromatic with high acidity producing vivid gunflint notes, while the reds produced intense color and were more tannic than former vintages but more balanced mellow tannins, supple and not astringent. All the different varietals were exceptionally fragrant and first indications are that the wine will be full-bodied and powerful with great length.
	2002 was full of surprises. After four successive years of drought, there was a long, rainy and cold winter lasting until June. A mild July and a hot August followed. The vines took longer to reach maturity than average and the harvest started one week later compared to previous years. The grapes were characterized by having high levels of sugar, acidity and tannin. The maturity level varied from vineyard to vineyard forcing wine growers to be selective in their picking.
	2001 started rainy cold days but things changed very quickly to warmer weather with almost no more rain at all. Therefore average annual rainfall was less than normal. As global warming continues to become more obvious and serious, after a normal flowering in the spring, July and August were far hotter than usual forcing an early harvest. The crop was good with ripe fruits but without not too much tannin or acidity.
	2000 saw a winter with average rainfall with some cold days, followed by clement weather, allowing flowering to develop quite well in spring. However, July was unusually hot with some very dry days - the temperature even above 35 degrees centigrade, followed by a hotter than average August but which was still cooler than July. September temperatures were normal. The crop was healthy and in good shape but down by 15%. The grapes were sweet but tannic with good acidity and the wines were balanced, tannic, concentrated and powerful.
	1999 was an exceptional year; one of the best. A mild winter with very little rainfall was followed by a normal spring, which allowed a good flowering. The summer was mild and although July and August were cloudy, September was hot and sunny. This enabled the grapes to reach maximum maturity with great all round concentration - good acidity and a high sugar level. However, the lack of water led to a lower yield. Wines were defined by high alcohol, high acidity and a lot of extract.
	1998 experienced a cold, rainy and snow winter interspersed with sunshine and followed by a cold and rainy spring that lasted till June. July, August, September and October had no rain at all. The crop was typical, both in quality and quantity; grapes were in good shape with no problems or disease and good to eat. Fermentation went smoothly but quicker than usual. Results were good, 1998 was very aromatic and fragrant year.
	1997 saw an uneventful winter followed by a fresh spring with no hail or frost. The summer was mild with a very cloudy and brisk August was followed by a sunny September. These perfect conditions allowed grapes to mature slowly but surely at a volume rarely achieved although the harvest was stopped four days in late September/early October due to rain.