harvest 2011 update

Update 6.7.2011(5.7.2011)billn

grillage-volnay-santenots-du-basThe boss‘ at my home domaine was joking yesterday that (having just taken a tour through the vines of Volnay) rather than triaging when I arrive on the 29th of August, I could be doing the ‘decuvage‘ instead – i.e. after fermenting, the shovelling out of the spent grapes from the fermentation tanks for pressing…!

One or two domaines are thinking of bringing forward by a day or two their first harvests in the Côte de Beaune – say to the 20th August!

Whilst we have so-far avoided any major issues surrounding rot or drought stress, as you can see from the picture (taken yesterday) some isolated vines got an overwhelming heat stress on June 27/28th. Those small grapes not protected from the full sun by the canopy were literally grilled – locally ‘grillage’…

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There are 3 responses to “harvest 2011 update”

  1. Will6th July 2011 at 12:06 pmPermalinkReply

    Bill,

    Thanks for the update. Are there similarities here with 2003?

    Cheers,
    Will

    • billn6th July 2011 at 1:38 pmPermalinkReply

      2003=2011? Not specifically Will, or at least not yet. This is a relatively isolated thing – where some grapes got full, unshaded sun before they were better able to cope with it. There have been a few temperature peaks, but nothing exceptionally so. 2003 was special because of the incessant high heat which caused younger vines to shrivel (and lose their leaves) and even caused older vines to shut down their ripening process.

      Of-course – if the next 4 weeks hover consistently at 35°C plus, then we will have some more substantial correlation…

  2. Mark Gough6th July 2011 at 12:32 pmPermalinkReply

    Good heavens ! Thanks for the interesting update Bill. Earliest vendange start I’d seen mooted before this was 25th August but I had noted from the weather reports it had been very hot again (unlike NW England !) – 31 degrees C earlier this week ?

    I’ve been waiting for an update from Cyprien Arlaud for over a week (along with a request to accomodate a new vendangeur besides moi) but heard nothing to date – leaving me to wonder thus far if he’s taken an early famille vacances. Think I’ll politely ‘chase’. Was intending my own family fortnight’s leave at the beginning of August but that might have to change as I don’t think my UK employers will be too enamoured at my having a month off in August !!

  3. Ray Walker6th July 2011 at 2:42 pmPermalinkReply

    Thanks for the photos Bill! That is much worse than I have seen. There are a few berries that I have seen here and there with the sumer blush but nothing like this. Looks like the winners from vineyards such as those will be those with the most hands on the table tri.

    • billn6th July 2011 at 2:49 pmPermalinkReply

      Hi Ray – as said – this is isolated stuff, and the person who took the pics told me ‘they are not my vines!’ 😉

      • Ray Walker6th July 2011 at 6:59 pmPermalinkReply

        Indeed, who would claim those vines this season….

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