Merlot Opoka 2021

We experienced a relatively mild winter, providing a favorable start to the new growing season. However, during the flowering of the vines in the last weeks of May, we faced bad weather that lowered the quantities of the 2019 vintage. The hot and very dry summer again contributed to a slightly smaller harvest, but we were pleased with the quality of the grapes. Elevated temperatures in July and August enabled normal berry development, ensuring excellent phenolic maturity. Harvesting occurred through multiple rounds as we carefully sought optimal characteristics for each grape variety.

The growing season in Brda began with mild and dry winter weather. Spring was somewhat cooler, leading to a slightly delayed start of the growing season compared to previous years. Flowering began around June 1st. The cooler temperatures, along with frequent rainfall during late spring and early summer, caused the vines to progress more slowly, but the development was uninterrupted. The summer of 2020 was lovely, characterized by sunny and warm weather, without any concerning heat waves and occasional rain showers that ensured optimal cluster growth and development. Gradual grape ripening took place in excellent conditions, with the right balance of sunlight and occasional rainfall. The harvest began in September and went exceptionally well. As a result, we expect an exceptionally high-quality vintage for both white and red wines.

The 2021 growing season will be remembered for unusual climatic conditions. We experienced a relatively mild winter, with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing, and very little rain, indicating the possibility of an early bud break. In contrast, temperatures decreased in March and April, and the cold weather continued into May, resulting in an extremely late start to flowering this year, which began on June 14th—marking the latest it has been in the last 25 years. Immediately after it began, temperatures quickly rose, and flowering progressed smoothly and rapidly for all grape varieties. Conditions returned to normal with a beautiful, warm summer—free from extreme heat waves and with little rainfall. This allowed the vines to catch up to a normal pace, ensuring optimal vine activity and cluster development. The sunny, dry, and pleasantly warm conditions in the fall allowed the grapes to reach optimal ripeness. Hand harvesting, which began in the first week of September, brought the highest quality grapes to the cellar, with whole, healthy grapes, an excellent balance of sugar levels and acidity, and deeply aromatic grapes. We anticipate above-average quality in both white and red wines. The red wines will be intensely colored this year, with soft and mature tannins.