2011 North America

A very cool year created problems all along the West Coast, with slow ripening the main worry. Growers had to delay harvesting until well into October and in Oregon even into November to achieve sufficient ripeness. Heavy autumn rains also posed potential problems of rot in Napa and Sonoma.

Those growers who held their nerve and picked late have made excellent wines, but at the more commercial end of the market there will be many wines which lack essential ripeness. The late Indian Summer really saved the day for those who waited so look out for some very balanced, elegant wines from top producers in Oregon, Washington and selected areas of California.