Jacky Blot: Il vendange même le samedi

Jacky marshaling his pickers: 11.10.2008

Bunch and hod carrier passing with load of grapes

We dropped over to Montlouis and caught up with Jacky Blot (Domaine la Taille aux Loups, AC Montlouis) and his team of pickers in the middle of harvesting just to the east of Husseau, part of the commune of Montlouis. It is a truly glorious afternoon – clear blue sky and 25˚C. Jacky is naturally thrilled with the weather and the condition of the fruit.

Chenin Blanc grapes@Montlouis: 11.10.08

Chenin Blanc grapes@Montlouis: 11.10.08

Jacky: “We started on the 6th October. At the moment we are making the first selection, which will go into Les Dix Arpents, and leaving those grapes that can go further. In a week’s time we’’ll pass through again and pick grapes that will go into Cuvée Remus. Degrees are between 12.3-13.0 with acidities between 6.6-7. Yields are around 30 hl/ha but, as the fruit is so perfect, we’re not having to throw any grapes away. Normally we have to discard at least 10%. 2008 is going to be a vintage for les grand vins secs.”

Taille aux Loups: old vine Chenin Blanc

Jacky and team@sorting table

Taille aux Loups: checking over grapes

Jacky@the sorting table

He is equally enthusiastic about the prospects for his Bourgueil (Domaine de la Butte). “We are going to check the grapes on Monday and I expect we will start on Thursday. Once we start we can harvest very quickly five days – even four days if we have to. Apart from Pied de la Butte, the Cabernet Franc is already at 13%. Potentially 2008 reds will be a grand vin de garde (one that will age well).”

Postscript: Epeigné’s ‘grand cru’ red picked in a hurry
Jim’s Loire understands that Mark Robertson had to hurriedly pick his reds yesterday before the birds ate the whole crop. Mark had planned to harvest tomorrow but, as all the vineyards around have been picked, the birds descended in force. Hardly convenient as Mark was busy making hectolitres of chocolate mousse for the annual repas des anciens held today in the village hall. It is quite possible that the volume of chocolate mousse will exceed to quantity of Epeigné’s 2008 ‘grand cru’ red.

Towards the 'GC'