High winds in May during flowering limited the yield somewhat, but a hot and largely dry June and July gave way to a cooler, damper August. We were a little worried by the humid sea breezes at the end of August, but the Tramontane kicked in in September, and we had a wonderful, warm, dry month.

The nose is more complex that our main wine and is more perfumed, spicy and complex. Layers of raspberry and wild strawberry, with wafts of rosemary and fennel. There's also hints of slatey minerals and even a note of iodine.

Initially soft, and lush, the palate unveils an array of crushed stones, herbs, and ripe plum and damson flavours. For all its softness, there is quite a lot of tannin here, and plenty of signs that this will improve over 3 to 4 years in bottle

Les Genoux is less intensely coloured than the regular cuveé, as it contains 10-15% white and pink grapes.

Excellent on its own as a 'vino di meditazione' (best appreciated with a good friend), Les Genoux is also a wonderful match for charcuterie (especially finnochiona, or fennel salami), and the perfumed, elegant style makes it pretty versatile.

Les Genoux will improve significantly over the first 2-3 years in bottle, and will continue to develop over at least a further 10 years

A few rainstorms at the end of Sept caused us some concern, but we harvested a large and healthy crop in good conditions.

Yes.