Skaha Bench Chardonnay 2021

2021 arrived from one of the easiest winters we have seen with no bud or vine death detected. Bud burst was a full week ahead of 2020 so it was an earlier than normal start to the season. Early spring was dry and cool. A light frost in mid-May occurred but the vines were unscathed. May’s average temperatures were between 20°C – 25°C. First heat arrived the end of May: 40°C in Osoyoos that lasted for 2 days. With only a couple days of rain, it was one of the driest springs on record. The last week of June set records with a 7-day heat dome which brought 46°C in Osoyoos, 44°C in Skaha, and 43°C in Penticton. The remainder of July enjoyed consistent heat with temperatures in the mid to high 30°C. The first week of August saw some cloudy skies due to smoke from fires, but the next 2 weeks of August were crystal clear and hot with very little precipitation. August 20th saw the cooler weather move in and 25°C became the norm. September was beautiful, sunny and warm, 25°C – 30°C, perfect for ripening grapes. Whites were harvested 10-14 days earlier than average. Because of the heat dome, the estate vineyards were 15-20% down in tonnage but showed excellent fruit quality.