The winter was hot and dry, the lack of precipitation caused a situation of meteorological drought.
In spring, the average temperature values were also higher than normal, which combined with the low rainfall in March and May, worsened the meteorological drought. In April, the recorded rainfall helped the plants recover from water stress and it was possible to reverse the drought situation. The month of May had two extremely hot periods, with temperatures well above normal.
The summer was unusually cool, but also very dry. This situation ended up being quite favorable for the vineyard, because although there was little water availability in the soil, the temperatures below normal allowed the plants to maintain their photosynthetic activity.
The climatic conditions of the year 2019 made it possible to obtain, from the sanitary point of view, healthy grapes and average yields above normal. In 2019, the trend of the early years for the harvesting of crops was reversed.
2019
2018 started very cold and dry, prolonging the severe drought that started in 2017. From March to the end of June, there were higher than usual rainfall values. Temperatures were slightly below average, especially in July. In the last days of July and the first days of August, temperatures rose to above 40ºC during the day and during the night they were always above 20ºC. This occurrence caused scald especially in white grapes and red grapes of Tinta Roriz variety. In August and September there were no records of precipitation. Harvesting started at the end of August and continued until 10 October, to ensure that the grapes reached the optimum ripening point.
2018
2017 was an extremely hot and dry year, being the 2nd hottest year since 1931. The excessive heat and lack of water (water and thermal stress), caused a sharp drop in production and led to an anticipation of 15 to 20 days in the phases. development of the vineyard.
Harvesting started on August 16 (white) and for the first time since there are records, red wines were also harvested in August (beginning on 28/08).
From the health point of view, it was a year without any registration. At the beginning of September, there was some precipitation and the temperature values remained high, which favored the quality of the musts. The musts in 2017 were quite alcoholic, aromatic and concentrated.
2017
In 2016 the harvest started in the middle of August, earlier than usual, to cope with the intense heat, after a very cold winter and a low temperature spring. Nevertheless, grapes were harvested in perfect ripeness, with a low alcohol content and a lively and fresh acidity.
2016
In 2015 there was no water stress, quite the contrary, the weather conditions were very favorable - with sun, heat and little humidity - and resulted in balanced musts, the smoothness of tannins and the intense concentration of color.
2015
In 2014, the harvest started in August, confirming the forecast of an early year due to the large amount of water accumulated during spring and winter. The quality of the wines, however, has not been affected in the slightest, quite the contrary: the whites have an unusual freshness, minerality and precision and the reds are very balanced, with great freshness and a clean and fleeting fruit.
2014
In 2013, the winter and spring rain was precious to restore the water levels in the soil, but the intense heat from June meant that the harvests were brought forward to mid-August, a decision that prevented the heavy rains from ending September affected the work. These wines are extremely balanced, with a lot of freshness and good concentration.
2013
In 2012, temperatures and precipitation were below average and, therefore, yields were naturally low. However, the quality has not been affected and we have extremely rich and tasty wines that, as they are young, deserve to be kept in the cellar for many years.
2012
In 2011, winter rainfall was above average and summer temperatures were quite high. However, the altitude of Freixo de Espada-à-Cinta is favorable to us and thanks to the cool nights we have maintained the acidity necessary to produce a “balanced and classy wine”, 95 - Decanter.com (MARITAVORA GRANDE RESERVA BRANCO).
2011
In 2010 we had a very rainy winter and a hot and dry summer, which translated into somewhat discreet wines while young, but with a well-marked acidity and balanced structure. “The increase in complexity over the years in the cellar has been remarkable and proves the potential for keeping this wine” - 18.5, JPM (MARITAVORA GRANDE RESERVA BRANCO).
2010
In 2009, the total rainfall was lower than the annual average between 1930 and 1960 and the high temperatures experienced in the months of August and September conditioned the harvests, which translates into less balanced and more alcoholic wines.
2009
In 2008, precipitation was also high, but temperatures did not affect the harvests, on the contrary, the especially cold nights in September contributed to obtaining red musts that are very closed in color and of great aromatic intensity and white musts low in alcohol content and high in total acidity.
2008
In 2007, the rains replenished the water reserves in the soil but also caused outbreaks of downy mildew. The cool temperatures of August and the beginning of September delayed maturation, in a year clearly marked by weather conditions. However, the quality remained with very elegant, complex white wines full of mineral character and red wines with fantastic colors and incredible acidity.
2007
In 2006, as a general rule, a dry year, there were many temperature fluctuations and with a hail storm in June that swept the vines. In September, temperatures were very high and to avoid over-ripening the grapes, the harvest started earlier than expected and the result was red wines with good alcohol content and balanced and white wines with a more discreet aroma.
2006
In 2005, after a very dry and relatively cold winter and a very hot summer, the harvest took place between the beginning of September and mid-October and gave rise to very fine and elegant wines, with good acidity and full of personality.
2005
In Maritávora, we are attentive to the climatic conditions that affect our vineyards and, although we know that Nature is an uncontrollable force, our mission is to safeguard high levels of acidity and avoid high alcoholic levels in our wines.
