Like previous years, 2011 blossomed from a dry and warm Spring, opening the door to sunny days and high temperatures in April, resulting in earlier-than-expected bud break. It’s always a relief to see the buds, after months of winter dormancy. The warm temperatures continued in May, allowing for an accelerated, but healthy, growth of the vines, clothing Clos Marey-Monge once again in a glorious ocean of green as far as the eye could see. Flowering and fruit set came together beautifully on May 20th, precisely one month ahead of nature’s usual schedule, compared to previous years. This acclaimed vintage, similar to the now-classic 2003, began its harvest on August 20th, with the Simone plot hand-picked when the grapes had ripened to perfection.