Fortunately the weather is good here: sunny but not very hot – the maximum temperature yesterday was just over 20˚C and the nights are decidedly fresh. Here and elsewhere in the Loire it seems a lot drier than during August – the grass is less green and the ground in the vineyards is dry and dusty.
“We started picking yesterday,” says Jérôme. “We checked the grapes on Monday a week ago (15 September) but they weren’t properly ripe ¬ only 9˚ alc but 8.2 acidity. Now we have 10.5˚-11˚ depending upon the parcel and 5.7 acidity. Waiting a week was very stressful as most of the producers around here were picking. 80% of all Muscadet has now been picked.” Assuming that their neighbours’ grapes were similarly barely ripe, it will be a good year for the bettravistes – sugar beet farmers of northern France. However, the high levels of acidity will be a problem.
At Luneau-Papin they are finishing the hand picking – yesterday was the last day – and the rest of the grapes will be picked by machine. Pierre Luneau was very relaxed yesterday – his main concern appears to be trying to get his new mobile phone to work properly.
Someone has to work: Pierre-Marie Luneau checks the harvest
Pierre Luneau admiring grapes destined for Excelsior
Monique Luneau: la vendangeuse en chef
(25 September 2008)
3 comments:
If you're calling in to Eric Chevalier at Saint Philbert de Grand Lieu, say hello from all at Bubble Brothers!
That rain reached us in Eastern Touraine Jim, still not much of it and the weather is still warmish. Had a bottle of the 2006 L D'or with a seafood lunch at Pornic a couple of saturdays ago. One of my favourite Muscadets.
Thanks for your messages. Not time on this occasion to see Eric - another time. Sounds like the Nantais had more rain but it cleared up in afternoon. This morning (25th)fine but misty in Anjou.
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