Champagne 2016 Vintage Report
Defining the 2016 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. 127mm 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 2 distinct cold snaps keeping vineyard managers on high alert during budbreak.
Summer conditions were balanced, oscillating between warm spells and refreshing intervals that kept the ripening on a steady track.
Harvest proceeded under mixed skies, requiring agility to dodge the 51mm of rain that fell sporadically during the picking weeks.
**Style:** Classically proportioned wines with good balance and terroir expression.
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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