The 2001 growing year began with a warm spring, particularly in the second half of May; this led to an excellent flowering and berry set.
Alternating periods of dry weather and light rains marked the summer, through completion of the active growth period.
The result was a cluster yield higher than desired for optimum fruit and wine quality, so beginning in late July we had to initiate cluster-thinning to ensure ideal growth-ripeness balance.
Significant ranges in temperature that begain at veraison in mid-August were quite beneficial to the ripening process.
Harvesting began in the first third of September, in spite of some periods of light rain.
Heavier rains in mid-September forced us to suspend picking, but the arrival of warmer winds in the last part of the month allowed us to continue.