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Thursday, 12 September 2019

2019 Loire vintage – picking underway in Muscadet

Picker @ the Lieubeau vineyards 
source of their Confluence cuvée

Melon de Bourgogne 2019


The official Ban des Vendanges for Muscadet was on Thursday 5th September. There were a few that started the day before but more general picking appears to have started during this week. Otherwise picking has been gradually getting underway with favourable weather conditions, even a little rain during Monday 8 to 12 mm. This case the rain should have been helpful as it has been very during here, although not as dry I think as in the Cher Valley.  

As last year the grapes are very healthy. The crop, however, is substantially down on a normal year with an estimate of 250,000 hls, around half of normal. This is due primarily to the April frosts but the drought has further lowered the crop – small berries with not much juice inside. 

It is likely that the pace of picking will pick up as producers will want to avoid acidity levels dropping. At the moment the little 2019 juice that I have tasted appears well balanced.

More reports to follow.  

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