Champagne 1985 Vintage Report
Defining the 1985 vintage in Champagne requires looking beyond the averages, as it was a year of contrasting fortunes and precise timing.
Early challenges emerged with a disrupted flowering phase. 72mm of rain during the bloom caused significant *coulure* (shatter), naturally lowering yields and concentrating the energy into fewer bunches. However, the threat of frost loom large, with 3 distinct cold snaps keeping vineyard managers on high alert during budbreak.
It was a cool, classical season. Reaching only 963 GDD, the summer never really spiked in temperature, favoring the development of fresh aromatics over sheer power.
The season concluded with a pristine harvest window. With negligible rain (17mm), pickers could wait for perfect phenolic maturity, harvesting each block at its absolute zenith.
**Style:** Elegant, transparent wines defined by finesse and vibrant acidity.
About Champagne
The cold, chalky plains of Champagne yield the world's most prestigious sparkling wines. Using the "Méthode Champenoise," the region blends Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Meunier to create wines of brightness, acidity, and complex autolytic character.
Climatic Blueprint
Growing Degree Days (GDD)
Total Rainfall
Sunshine Hours
Diurnal Shift
Frost Days
Average Temperature
Historical Context (10 Years)
Comparison of growing season heat accumulation vs regional average.
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