California Vintage 2015
2105 across the USA can be summed up fairly simply - early, quick, clean and intense!
It was a good fruit driven vintage in California. 2015 marks a fourth year of drought conditions across the region. A warm start to the season accelerated bud break and a few hot spells through August meant that picking started as early as the middle of the month. Yields were generally down due to the shortage of water, leading to very concentrated small berries.
2015 also follows the current trend for premium winemakers seeking fresher styles of wine (which earlier picking encourages).