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A difficult growing season has resulted in a heavily reduced yield, but excellent quality wines for the 2003 vintage.
The first fate to befall the vignerons of Chablis in 2003 was a severe spring frost (-8°C) that killed off a lot of the crop as the buds were already quite advanced due to mild early spring weather.
June to September was excessively hot with temperatures over 40°C for 9 successive days in early August. The highest temperature ever recorded in Chablis, since records began in 1873, was recorded during this period of 41.7°C. Both drought and sunburn reduced the yield still further.
Harvest began on the 25th August, a whole month ahead of usual and was completed on 5th September, incredibly early.
Older vines with a deep root system did not suffer as badly as younger vines, so the established Premierand Grand Crus from the best producers did particularly well.
In general, the wines are very ripe with unprecedented levels of tropical fruit flavours as well as the typical citrus and mineral notes.
The result is good but atypical wines.