Discarded grapes
By late September/early October it was already clear that unlike Anjou, the 2010 vintage was going to be difficult as these photos taken at Domaine Huet's Clos du Bourg on 1st October show.
A victim of esca
View across the vines to the tower with some of the buildings of Tours in the background
The name is Charlier, Luc Charlier and I gladly offer my quantum of solace, Jim. If indeed 2010 does not look bright at the Clos du Bourg, we’ll open a bottle of their “première trie” 1990 instead, when you pay me a visit. Your decanter or mine?
ReplyDeleteAs of the picture, it can be deceptive and of course an “apoplexy” due to one of the many yeasts involved in esca could be the cause, but what I see reminds me more of a “banal” case of mildiou (Plasmopara viticola) in its extreme stadium. Look at the patchy degeneration of the wood (some still green, the remnant already dried out), some bunches having dried while apparently ripe, others uncompleted (as if “millerandées” for a part, and green berries as well) and, of course, the absence of leaves. True, it is not always easy to tell, at a distance.
Luc. You may be right, although I suspect that it is esca or euti.
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