Although the 2009 Loire vintage has started for some – early ripening varieties like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc in the areas where the grapes ripen first – for many the waiting continues, Fortunately the weather is set fair for the moment – at least until Thursday and Friday of next week when Météo-France is forecasting some rain. I gather that the moon changed recently when the weather was fine, which is apparently a good sign. This is a nail biting time – so near and yet so far if the weather turns against you. This is another time in the vignerons' calendar when, in Sir Alex Ferguson's memorable phrase about the end of the football season – "it's squeaky bum time"!
News from two producers still waiting:
Vincent Roussely of Clos Roussely, AC Touraine
10th September 2009
"I'll be starting next Thursday with the Sauvignon, which is at 11.8% potential alc and 6.7 g of acidity – still a bit high. I think that while the dry weather in August ripened the grapes it also concentrated the acidity. Most of my Sauvignon is at Angé, where some of my vines were hit by hail. I think the hail damage caused stress to the vines and stopped them from developing and ripening for about two weeks, so I'll be starting a little later than people who weren't hit by hail. In parcels damaged by the hail I have probably lost about 40% of the crop. Taking the Sauvignon overall I guess I have lost about 20%.
The Gamay is looking good but I'm in no hurry to pick as I want to let it get properly ripe."
News from two producers still waiting:
Vincent Roussely of Clos Roussely, AC Touraine
10th September 2009
"I'll be starting next Thursday with the Sauvignon, which is at 11.8% potential alc and 6.7 g of acidity – still a bit high. I think that while the dry weather in August ripened the grapes it also concentrated the acidity. Most of my Sauvignon is at Angé, where some of my vines were hit by hail. I think the hail damage caused stress to the vines and stopped them from developing and ripening for about two weeks, so I'll be starting a little later than people who weren't hit by hail. In parcels damaged by the hail I have probably lost about 40% of the crop. Taking the Sauvignon overall I guess I have lost about 20%.
The Gamay is looking good but I'm in no hurry to pick as I want to let it get properly ripe."
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Jean-Pierre and Florence Chevallier@Salon des Vins de Loire 2009
Jean-Pierre and Florence Chevallier@Salon des Vins de Loire 2009Florence Chevallier, Château de Villeneuve, Saumur-Champigny/Saumur
11th September 2009
At the moment the vines are looking magnificent – the grapes are very healthy with none of the diseases that we had in 2007 and 2008. About a fortnight ago we had 21mm of gentle rain spread over three days, which was very good for the vines. Being gentle the rain soaked in. As it has been so dry had it been heavy the rain would have run off taking soil with it. We think we will start around the 28th September but much depends on the temperatures over the next two weeks. As always we will have a small harvest – we never look for volume. Generally we have good vintages in years ending in 9 – 1989 and 1999."
It is true that the 9's have often been good – Villeneuve's 1999 Les Cormiers has been magnificent recently. Prior to the great 1989 vintage, 1979 and 1969 were OK, 1959 is another very fine vintage as are 1949, 1929 and the 1919 Le Mont Moelleux Huet was magnificant in April. So fingers crossed!
11th September 2009
At the moment the vines are looking magnificent – the grapes are very healthy with none of the diseases that we had in 2007 and 2008. About a fortnight ago we had 21mm of gentle rain spread over three days, which was very good for the vines. Being gentle the rain soaked in. As it has been so dry had it been heavy the rain would have run off taking soil with it. We think we will start around the 28th September but much depends on the temperatures over the next two weeks. As always we will have a small harvest – we never look for volume. Generally we have good vintages in years ending in 9 – 1989 and 1999."
It is true that the 9's have often been good – Villeneuve's 1999 Les Cormiers has been magnificent recently. Prior to the great 1989 vintage, 1979 and 1969 were OK, 1959 is another very fine vintage as are 1949, 1929 and the 1919 Le Mont Moelleux Huet was magnificant in April. So fingers crossed!
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