2016 Loire harvest – Cher Valley: Laurent Saillard and Vincent Roussely

 Sauvignon Blanc, Laurent Saillard, 

ex-vineyards of Clos Roche Blanche 

Sauvignon Blanc from Le Clos, Angé, Vincent Roussely

On Friday we made two quick visits to two domaines in the Cher Valley – Laurent Saillard and Vincent Roussely. Both were in the middle of harvesting their Sauvignon Blanc. 

Laurent was reasonably happy – no April frost and mildew under control. The only significant loss was from grapes frazzle by the sun during the July and August heat wave. Although they now have a wind machine and used smoke pots during the frost, this vineyard also escaped the frost of 1991. It seems that there is a current of air that comes down through this site, which is just enough to keep the airt moving and protect the vines.

In contrast Vincent Roussely in Angé, about five kilometres to the west of Laurent's vines was hit by the April frost, so had few bunches of Sauvignon Blanc to pick in his Le Clos vineyard. 

 Laurent's team of pickers (above and below) including 

an American in Touraine (above)

 

Laurent loading boxes of Sauvignon

in his van   

••

 Vincent's team of US student pickers 

 

 Vincent Roussely

 Two bunches close together – sadly a rare sight!

 

Au dernier moment: dimanche et lundi chez Christian Venier

'C'est bientôt la Pentecôte et donc les portes ouvertes à la cave: nous vous invitons les 14 et 15 Mai (10H00-18H00), ainsi que le 16 (10H00-13H00)  pour goûter les vins de Christian, mais aussi ceux de Noëlla Morantin, Laurent Saillard (Vallée de la Loire), Benoit Courault (Anjou), Jeff Coutelou  et Sébastien Benoit-Poujad (Languedoc).'

My apologies I meant to post this several days ago but it fell into an email black hole. Still possible to visit tomorrow or on Monday morning.    

Clos Roche Blanche, AC Touraine – historic last vintage for Catherine & Didier

  Catherine Roussel rallying the pickers for nearly the last time

 

Didier Barouillet down in the cellar

2014 is the last vintage for Catherine Roussel and Didier Barouillet at the Clos Roche Blanche (AC Touraine@Mareuil-sur-Cher). Retirement beckons for them. Over the past few years some of their vineyards have been sold off, in particular to Noëlla Morantin. The remaining vineyards, including a small parcel of Côt (Malbec is a synomym) where the vines are celebrating their 120th birthday this year, will be split between Laurent Saillard and Julien. Laurent and Julien will each be making their own wines.  

 

Picking Sauvignon Blanc on a misty late September morning

Catherine picking

 

 Another small crop of Sauvignon Blanc in 2014: 15-20 hl/ha 

There were a large number of spiders' webs this morning

 Picker amongst the vines

Laurent Saillard@Clos Roche Blanche 2011 harvest

 

Mid-morning break

Didier in the cellar pouring a sample of 

2014 Sauvignon Blanc coming in at an average 13.3%, 

5.4 acidity and 3.28 acidity 

Quality is good but quantity is again low  

2012 Loire: searching for Sauvignon Blanc in Pouillé

 Noëlla Morantin making an early and powerful bid for the 2012 Grand Prix de l'Elegance 

This afternoon we headed down to Pouillé to see how the vendange was coming along. We soon came across Noëlla Morantin, Laurent Saillard and their small team of pickers in a parcel of vines bought from Junko Ara last year. As elsewhere yields are tiny this year with significant problems of mildew compounding the other afflictions that this year has thrown at the vignerons. Today Noëlla was expecting to harvest three hectares by hand as there are so few grapes – normally with her team they manage one hectare a day. Because of the small crop, alcohol levels are tending to be high – between 13% and 13.5% for the Sauvignon.

Ironically, after all the rain between April and July, it is now desperately dry and  the vignerons really could do with the little rain just to swell the grapes, give them some juice and reduce the acidity, which is still high. According to Thierry Delaunay the level is between 5.5 and 6.5. He expects to start picking next week. 

The weather station at Tours has recorded just 11mm of rain since the beginning of August: 8.8mm in August and 2.2mm in September to Thursday 20th. It has finally rained today, so these figures will have to be updated. The forecast over the next week is much less settled than it has been recently. Although the grapes could do with a little rain, they won't want a prolonged deluge!   

A typically small bunch 

Dried brown gapes – signs of mildew damage (above and below) + also the start of some noble rot (below)

 Mildew damage 

A more generous bunch (above and below)

The search for grapes is on...

Laurent finds some ... (above and below)

The 'Obama 12' T shirt is on order!

Half an afternoon's work for Laurent!

2011 Loire vintage: picking Sauvignon Blanc@Le Clos Roche Blanche

Emptying 2011 Sauvignon Blanc grapes into the trailer

The 2011 vintage started at the CRB this afternoon despite the overnight rain and despite it being Friday – "work started on a Friday is never finished" is an old saying. The Sauvignon Blanc grapes looked good with rare traces of rot plus some affected by wasp stings which apparently produces vinegar and affected bunches need to be discarded.

"When we checked the maturity of the grapes they were at 11.5%-12% potential," said Catherine Roussel, "but the acidity levels are already low – 4.5. I'm happy if our Sauvignon Cuvée No2 is around 12%. I'm tired of Sauvignon at 14%, although the grapes for Cuvée No 5 will be a bit riper but No2 is for easy, refreshing drinking."

The team of pickers gathers for the off 

Catherine Roussel issuing instructions on what to pick and what not to ...

Two hod carriers – on right Laurent Saillard

Making a start

2011 Sauvignon Blanc (above and below)

Bucket of grapes 

Laurent sending a text, while waiting for the next load of grapes

Catherine watching grapes go into the trailer

Bunches building up in trailer

Dog's verdict on pickers and the 2011 vintage