Alentejo - 'traumatic May' means lower yields, but 'excellent quality'
From Alentejo, John Fordyce from Herdade do Mouchão said the Portuguese region had experienced a "traumatic May".
From Alentejo, John Fordyce from Herdade do Mouchão said the Portuguese region had experienced a "traumatic May".
He says, severe thunderstorms interspersed with high temperatures induced an attack of mildew in many vineyards.
The expectation was of an early harvest, with lower volumes due to the mildew and good quality due to a later period of ideal ripening conditions with daytime temperatures of 30-32 ºC and night time temperatures of 12-14ºC.
"And so it has proved," says Fordyce. "Volumes are some 30% below 2010 but the quality is thus far proving to be excellent."
He adds the whites have high levels of natural acidity and at this early stage are showing a good combination of flavour and structure.
"At the halfway stage reds are showing great promise, with concentration, colour and acidity encouraging high expectations."
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