Botrytis cinerea

Botrytis cinerea - The fungus known also as 'noble rot'. When it attacks healthy, ripe grapes, it weakens the skin, speeding up the evaportation of water from the flesh of the grapes and causing them to shrivel.

As well as concentrating sugars and acids, the mould adds its own unique flavours to the wine.

Note:
1) A combination of factors is needed to make these wines:
- a problem-free ripening period to ensure fully ripe, healthy grapes;
- damp, misty mornings to encourage the growth and spread of the botrytis mould;
- warm dry afternoons to speed the drying out of the grapes.
2) The above conditions are found in very few wine growing regions, and cannot be relied on to occur every year.