Loire 2019 – Saumur, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil and Bourgueil

Picking @Domaine de la Butte, Bourgueil

Some photos and reports from harvest in Saumur, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil and Bourgueil on 3rd October.

2019 Cabernet Franc in vineyard along Montée de l'Angle Cher, Saumur 
Above and below
(Saumur-Chempigny)

 

Picture perfect Cabernet Franc

We made a number of visits on Thursday 3rd October to vignerons to see how the 2019 harvest was progressing. The overall message is that 2019 is another quality vintage, that it is a very good vintage for whites with a better balance and freshness than 2018. However, unlike the generous 2018 vintage, 2019 is a small vintage due to a combination of factors – spring frosts, coulure and millerandage during flowering due to wet conditions in early June, drought and grapes being grilled by the sun.

In last week's post I raised the frequency of grapes being frazzled by the heat spikes at the end of June and during July. It would appear that the spike at the end of July caused the most damage. It also seems that Chenin Blanc was more affected by the heat of the sun than Cabernet Franc.  Raising the height of the canopy is one way of providing more protection through increasing the amount of shade compared to vines with a low canopy.

As is often the case there were some who were only just starting – Anthony and Cedric Bonneau (Domaine de la Bonnelière – Saumur and Saumur-Champigny.  They had started that day on picking Cabernet for their rosé and would also be picking their Chenin Blanc for their Saumur Blanc. They had picked grapes destined for their Crémant de Loire between the 22nd and 24th September. However, they would only start picking their Cabernet Franc for Saumur Rouge and Saumur Champigny at the beginning of this week beginning 7th October. In contrast Antoine Sanzay, Jean-Pierre Chevallier (Ch de Villeneuve), Frédéric Mabileau, Yannick Amirault and Philippe Boucard (Lamé Delisle Boucard) were all close to finishing.

Higher trained vines not only provide more foliage
but also increased shade give further protection against sunburnt grapes

 

Example of higher foliage providing more shade
+ vine suffering from Esca

 

Chenin Blanc grapes grilled by the sun, Saumur

Picking @Domaine de la Butte, Bourgueil

Frédéric Mabileau– 2019 Cabernet Franc
again picture perfect fruit

Jean-Paul Mabileau (doesn't want to wait for the 2019 wine to be made
– he wants to enjoy the grapes now!

 

2019 Cabernet Franc macerating, Domaine Yannick Amirault
Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil

 

Barrels and amphores @Domaine Yannick Amirault

Frédéric Mabileau and his small egg
containing Chenin Blanc with pips and skins

 

•••

Antoine Sanzay's renovated cave 

The entrance to the complex of caves

During our visit to see how 2019 was progressing at Antoine Sanzay (Varrains), he quickly showed his renovated cave. The complex of cellars, part of which was once a dwelling, has for many years existed but now they have been renovated to provide wine storage space. The major work was concreting the floor to make an easy and convenient surface.

Antoine has installed a lift for easy access for his wine

 

The lift housing 

Les Bacchanales Suspects by Le Bruit Qui Court – 16th September, Tours – now postponed

  

Le Bruit Qui Court (Benais) take a bow at the end of 

their performance of Les Bacchanales Suspects

with members of L'Equipe Amirault

Yesterday as part of the celebrations of Yannick and Nicole Amirault's 40 vendanges (harvests) celebration we much enjoyed a performance of Les Bacchanales Suspects by Le Bruit Qui Court, a group of actors based in the commune of Benais.

Next Saturday they will be performing Les Bacchanales Suspects in Tours at the salle du Thélème à Tours – details below. The performance will be in aid of La Ligue Contre le Cancer. Definitely recommended if you are in Tours next Saturday – very funny. 

'Les bacchanales suspects vous donnent rendez-vous le samedi 16 septembre 2017 à la salle du Thélème à Tours pour une représentation dont les bénéfices seront versés à la ligue contre le cancer. Un fléau qui nous concerne tous d'une façon ou d'une autre.

Alors venez nombreux passer un bon moment de détente avec cette pièce humoristique qui a déjà conquis un large public.

Réservations au 02 47 39 20 20 ou cd37@ligue-cancer.net

'Et, surtout faites de la pub autour de vous, d'avance un grand merci.'

Brief synopsis: 

" A REDBOTTLE CITY, c'est la stupeur ! Ce soir là, dans la cellule du commissariat central, se retrouvent 6 suspects. 6 suspects que tout oppose, que tout rassemble… Tous sont entendus dans le cadre d'une enquête pour disparition. 

Depuis la veille, toute la ville est sans nouvelle de son unique vigneron. Le domaine sans lui n'est rien. Disparition, enlèvement, meurtre ? L'enquête s'annonce complexe. Toutefois, suite à une dénonciation anonyme, nos 6 prévenus se trouvent dans une situation délicate. Entre périodes en cellule et interrogatoires, nos 6 compères feront tout pour se sortir de ce mauvais pas, en livrant leurs vérités. Mais personne n'est dupe !  Ils font tous partie intégrante de l'activité du disparu : la viticulture. Parmi eux se trouve le coupable. Forcément ! Forcément ? "

Une réflexion humoristique, sur la viticulture.

Message du 13 septembre:

 

Bonjour,

La ligue contre le cancer a été contrainte de reporter, avec notre accord, la représentation des Bacchanales Suspects prévue le samedi 16 Septembre à la salle Thélème à Tours.

 

Ce report fait suite au bouclage complet du quartier autour de la salle, en raison des "Francos Gourmandes" et de leur impact sur l'accès à la salle et sur le stationnement.

 

Une nouvelle date sera communiquée sous peu, la représentation aura lieu avant la fin de l'année.

 

Merci de votre compréhension.

Le Bruit Qui Court