Wow – harvesting in October – that’s getting rarer!
I would take the weather forecast with a pinch of salt as we’re coming out of a settled period and it seems to change every few hours, but it is what it is right now.
Anyway, as soon as you leave they get all sorts of stuff;
- Santenay which needed plenty of unripe stuff removing
- Beaune 1er Avaux which had more rot in it
- Corton Clos du Roi which was better than the previous two
- and best for last, Vosne-Romanée, superb grapes, almost no sorting and absolutely good enough to justify the inclusion of 60-70% whole clusters!
Just a little rain this afternoon, but it was light stuff. The vintage was very scary for growers two weeks ago, but it really has been saved by the weather. The grapes are a little more fragile than 2005 (less thick skins), in that respect they are similar to 2006, but sugars are okay; one cuvée was down at 11.7° but most are 12-13 and a couple are over 13°. Fermentations have already started on some and colour extraction looks not bad.
Anyway everything is in at this domaine except the Corton-Charlemagne and the Gevrey grand crus – a forecast of a fine weekend has delayed picking these until Monday!
Alas, ‘Mark de Morey’ seems lost in action, I hope he didn’t slip into the destemmer…
There are 3 responses to “wednesday 1st update”
The Oregon pinot harvest is late as well. August was uncommonly damp (usually the only guaranteed warm and dry spate in the PNW) and the spring had been long and cold as well.
@bmcq – Pacific Nortwest?
When I grow up, I want to have a “job” like yours!
Thanks for the updates.
Yup: Nord’Ouest. Drouhin has a big installation and there’s quite a few vintners making wines with character. A few even begin to approach the focus and dimension of red burgundies, but there is a lot to learn.