The Loire weather is now more unsettled with some rain having fallen this week and some more is forecast. Up to Wednesday 16th September, from figures supplied by Météo France, Tours has had 19.6mm of rain (55.8mm is the average for September); Bourges – 41.4mm (average 62.6mm); Angers – 20.4mm (average 54.8mm); Nantes 21.6mm (average 68.2mm). Thus all with the exception of Bourges proportionally below the average rainfall so far.
Montlouis: Jacky and his team sorting the grapes – October 2008I spoke to Jacky Blot (Taille aux Loups/ Domaine de la Butte) on 15th September:
Jacky: "I'm optimistic about 2009. Montlouis: the grapes are very healthy – it's been very dry. Due to a difficult flowering in June the grapes vary a lot in size – some large, some small. We'll start picking around 28th September – beginning with grapes destined for sparkling wine from 'les petits terroirs'. At the same time we will also do a first selective picking for the premier cuvées like Les Dix Arpents.
"The flowering was also irregular in Bourgueil. As usual we will wait. I expect we'll pick around the 10th-15th October. We have a big group of pickers there, so it only takes four or five days for us to complete the harvest."
Noël tasting the 1949 demi-sec and wondering how 2009 will compare?Noël Pinguet (Domaine Huet, Vouvray)
Noël: "We need rain – the vines lack water. It's a big harvest but the grapes have little juice. Furthermore the recent wind has further reduced the juice. Because mid-June was cold the flowering was very drawn out, so a big range of ripeness. During the summer we have had hot days and cold nights. Wehave seen some oidium at Le Mont, which is the vineyard that is always affected first. I expect we will start picking around 5th October.
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Some news from the Central VineyardsReuilly started last week with their Pinot Gris. Quincy followed on Monday, Pouilly on Wednesday, while the other Central Vineyards are expected to make a start on Monday 21st September.
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