Loire about to set unwanted weather records + Bordeaux view

Cabernet Franc vines at Nau Frères, Bourgueil 6th May 2011 (above and below) –

already the first signs of flowering were apparent

The weather in the Loire continues to be unseasonably cold with little sunshine and well above average rain in May. Unfortunately at the Bourges weather station May 2013 has already set a record for the lowest amount of sunshine and has broken the record set in May 1996. Although the stats for today are not yet available, only 141 hours of sunshine have been recorded to 30th May and this comfortably below the 156 recorded in May 1996. The average sunshine (1991-2010) for May here is 210 hours and the record for most hours of sunshine is 311 hours in May 2011 – well over twice the number of hours!*

Except for brief glimpses of sun today has been overcast. At the Tours weather station things are more finely balanced. To date 142 hours of sunshine have been recorded just short of the record low of 144 hours established in May 2007. Did Tours have two hours of sunshine today – I doubt it.  

Château Soucherie: debudding Chenin Blanc on 27th May 2013

Admittedly the area is different as is variety but the growth on the vines at Bourgueil 

on 6th May 2011 is significantly further advanced than here over 20 days later in 2013

Flowering is not expected to start here for another two weeks

27th May was easily the sunniest day since we arrived 

on 23rd May but it did then rain all night   

 Quarts de Chaume 2013: young buds and a potential grape 

well off flowering: 27th May 2013 

     

The vines are well behind a normal year and far behind 2011, which was a particularly early year. Flowering is unlikely to start until mid-June and the vines also have a lot of growth to make. 

In early June will post final stats for May for a number of Loire weather stations.   

* Source: Meteo France

Plus a view on 2013 from Bordeaux:
'With the dust now settling on the 2012 campaign, thoughts are gradually turning to the 2013 vintage. Liv-ex has opened up the blog to Bordeaux grower, local winemaker and writer Gavin Quinney (@GavinQuinney). His insider’s view on the growing conditions - and prospects - for this year's vintage are below. All photos in this article are copyright Gavin Quinney. 

There hasn't been a poor vintage in Bordeaux for twenty years but the cold, damp weather, as we approach the critical month of June, is a gentle reminder that anything can happen.

The 2013 harvest will be my fifteenth (a rookie still) and the development of the vines across Bordeaux this year is the most backward I've seen. Our vineyard manager, Daniel, will tell you the same thing, and he's been here since the 80s.'

Read the rest here:  

Central Vineyards – prospects for 2011 vintage: Sancerre

From Sancerre towards Chavignol

We headed across to Sancerre and Pouilly to see how the vineyards and the grapes look before the start of the vintage, which is expected next Monday 5th September. This is certainly well in advance of recent years and is about in line with the start in 2003 – the year of the heatwave.

Bunches of Pinot Noir just to the south of the Bourges-Sancerre road (above and below)

Pinot Noir rot but fortunately fairly dry

It is clear that rain on the 14th August and again some last Friday (26th) – not a much as in parts of Touraine – has caused problems. Short of time I could only get a quick impression from parts of the vineyard. However, the incidence of rot seems variable and 2011 will be a year when the work of serious vignerons in their vines will pay off. Those who have controlled their yields, deleafed and opened up the canopy should have few problems of rot, as long as the weather doesn't become very wet and humid. Those who haven't and who have used fertiliser on their vines are likely to be faced with significantly more rot. Having said that there is no doubt that there have been big improvements here over the last 10-12 years. 

Anyone intended to make serious Sancerre Rouge will certainly have to hand picked and be prepared to be ruthless in their selection.

Puddle on top of Les Monts Damnés

Sancerre Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc)Like the Pinots, there was some rot in the Sauvignon that I saw. It varies from parcel to parcel and there are plenty of completely healthy, rot free bunches. Hopefully the weather will be like today – around 22˚C warm but not humid with quite a fresh evening. Certainly this won't be as easy a vendange as 2008 or 2009 when the fruit was picture perfect, especially 2009.

Sauvignon Blanc@top of Les Monts Damnés

  Sauvignon Blanc above Verdigny 

Sauvignon Blanc with rot above Verdigny