It is now 9.30am on the 16th of September and commencement of the harvest is quickly approaching; and what a harvest it promises to be. Tasted some grapes from our vineyard this morning and the potential is certainly there to produce a very special wine. This photo has just been taken from our balcony, a good indication of what September mornings are like here in St.Emilion, Bordeaux.
All this talk of grapes and wine is making me extremely thirsty; and hey, if Brian Cowen, the leader of Ireland, can, then so can I!
Paddy,
ReplyDeleteI've heard reports of some Merlot, particularly that on very gravelly soils being stressed due to lack of water (the past week's rains notwithstanding) in some parts of Bordeaux. Do you expect that this will result in a higher percentage of Cab Franc in the blend for 2010? How has this affected vineyards in Montagne? Have the recent rains help quench thirsty vines?
Hey Dave,
ReplyDeleteinteresting questions.
however, until the harvest is actually in the cellar it is premature to pronounce judgement on quality/blends!
In 2010 our lawn has been greener for a longer period than we have grown accustomed to, so, for me the rainfall is normal. Also, there are no water restrictions in place as we have had in 2003 and 2005 for example.
"strong wood doesn't grow with ease, the stronger the wind the stronger the trees".
To produce really complex wines the vines need to be stressed at certain periods throughout the growing process.The warmest and driest years traditionally produce the most concentrated vintages in Bordeaux, like the 2003 and 2005 vintages.
I really like the way this vintage is shaping up, and if current conditions continue then we will have another amazing vintage to savour in the years to come.
cheers, Paddy