Fruit trees sometime do this... but there is usually something that causes it to happen.
Things like a dry or very wet period when the tree has flowers, a hard rain or high winds on the flowers or not enough fertilizer and the tree is under stress. Maybe just no bees to pollinate the flowers.
I have one old Mandarin tree that has not been real health [leaves are a little small and some are slightly yellow.] and I have fertilized each early spring and some in June. Last year the tree was loaded with fruit. This spring there were fewer than normal flowers and none of the fruit "set". About 6 weeks ago, I trimmed off the top 20-25 % and I gave it a second fairly heavy dose of 13-13-13. Now the leaves are much greener and the tree looks much better. I am hopping there might have a late flowering and produce fruit.
Last spring my 2 year old Mires lemon did not set any fruit in the early spring. That was ok by me to let the young tree use it energy to grow bigger for next year. In June I checked the tree one day, and to my surprise it had a dozen flowers. My wife wanted to let the small fruit grow to see if they would ripen. I think I picked 8 this past December.
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