Nature was particularly kind in 2009, providing conditions that favoured the vegetation cycle and helped the grapes to reach full maturity. Winter was a little colder than usual, though in the period to March the region had 204 hours of sunshine more than the average for the last thirty years. April was very wet and May often stormy. Flowering took place rapidly and evenly around 5 June. Summer set in from mid-June, bringing remarkable levels of sunshine and little rainfall. The very fine weather and high level of hydric stress, barely alleviated by a few showers, enabled the grapes to ripen slowly to full maturity. Temperatures in August were 1.4° C higher than the average. The ideal weather continued into September as cool nights alternated with hot days. The weather, encouraging the concentration of aromas and flavours, brought the crop to harvest in perfect condition. The grapes were extremely healthy, containing plenty of sugar and showing exceptional potential. 2009 will undoubtedly go down as a vintage to match the finest.