Harvest Year: Finesse and Ripeness in Balance François calls 2023 a fine year, comparable in ripeness to 2018. The harvest began on September 1st, before the major heatwave, and concluded on September 12th. To preserve the freshness of the grapes, they were picked early, until around 11:30 p.m. The acidity is milder than in 2022, but the wines have enough tension to endow the ripe fruit with elegance and energy. François's Method He uses a consistent approach for his wines. The grapes are gently pressed, and fermentation and malolactic fermentation take place in oak, 10 to 15 percent of which is new. The wines are then aged for twelve months on the fine yeast spores in wooden barrels. This is followed by another six months of aging in stainless steel to preserve freshness.