Picking machine harvesting Sauvignon Blanc@François Cartier's vineyards in Pouillé
Last Tuesday around Pouillé and Thesée the 2011 harvest was really getting underway with a number of picking machines out as well as teams of pickers. Despite the rain at the end of last week, the fruit was looking really good with considerably less signs of rot than had been apparent in Sancerre and Pouilly the day before. Unfortunately the forecast is not very favourable for the coming week with some rain forecast on most days. Hopefully the weather will turn out to be better than currently forecast.
Sauvignon Blanc@Domaine Joël Delaunay
Picking machine@Domaine Joël Delaunay
Starting to unload Sauvignon Blanc@Domaine Joël Delaunay
Grapes beginning to flow
Full flow
Côt (?) from one of the very productive clones from 1970s-80s
Pouillé: well spaced out Sauvignon Blanc
Hate those picking machines. Even worse for white wines.
ReplyDeleteNothing to justify it ... except the need to survive !
Shame.
Luc. I agree picking by hand has more charm and magic. Furthermore the greatest estates all pick by hand. However, would you be able to find enough pickers to harvest all France's vineyards by hand, especially in difficult years when the grapes need to be picked quickly?
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