Vouvray: 2009 vintage now underway

Bunch of Chenin in the Clos du Bourg – combination of noble rot and passerillage: 2.10.09

The official ban des vendanges was on 28th September, although some of the most serious producers waited until the end of the week to start picking. On the way back from picking friends up at Tours Airport today we made a quick diversion into Vouvray to have a look at the vines and also drop into see Didier Champalou and then Noël Pinguet (Domaine Huet).

First day of the harvest@the Champalous: picking machine for the pétillant

Didier Champalou: "We started today and have been picking for the pétillant naturel. The grapes have been coming in at between 12.5%-13% potential with 6.2-6.5g acidity. After fermentation this will come down to 5.5g. I'm happy with the balance. It has been very dry, which blocked the maturation for a while. Until a week ago the flavours were still un peu herbace (a little grassy) but they are fine now. Yields are between 45-50hl/ha."

Noël Pinguet backing in a load of 2009 grapes to the press area@Domaine Huet

Noël Pinguet: "We started on Thursday and in the reverse of normal are picking only the green green for our pétillants and secs as the alcoholic degrees are becoming too high. The grapes are coming in around 12.7% alc with 5.5 acidity. We are very short of stock of pétillants so it was essential that we first concentrated on picking the green grapes and leaving those starting to develop noble rot until later. So far we have 200hls of juice for the pétillants and will harvest another 100hl on Monday. It will be a big harvest this year, which will fill up our vats, although I'm not pressing the grapes hard."