Further 2008 harvest reports and photos

Benoît Roumet, director of the Bureau du Centre, told me this morning that the harvest at Sancerre and Pouilly is virtually finished and that the weather had continued to be favourable. They had a little rain but this may have benefitted those who picked later as it reduced the acidity and gave the grapes a little more juice.

I have now added further reports to 'A fine day in Pouilly and Sancerre' (7th October 2008). This postings is now finally complete.

These new additions are André Vatan, Pascal Reverdy, Stéphane Riffault, Gérard Cherrier (Château de Sancerre), Quentin David (Château Favray), Masson Blondelet and François Crochet.

Riesling: the top white? Not for me.

Jamie Goode: wine anorak blog 19th October 2008

‘As I've said before on this blog, if you are in the wine trade you have no choice about which your favourite white grape is. It *just* has to be Riesling. Well, with wines like this, it's not difficult. It's beautifully balanced and delicious. The only problem? It should really be a pound or two cheaper, I think.

Reichsrat von Buhl Riesling QBA 2007 Pfalz, Germany’

Much as I admire Jamie on this occasion he is wrong. Riesling is certainly not my favourite grape variety – Chenin Blanc, the world’s most versatile grape, is., although Riesling is an honourable runner-up.

News of the 2008 vintage from Millton Vineyards

James in a block of Chenin Blanc

Message today from James Millton:

'2008 was good, not spectacular in that we were not able to make the third selection due to lack of sunshine. IN the end the bees were eating the shriveling botrytised berries faster than they would dry out which made any selection quite hazardous!

So the wines have quite fine purity and poise, good acidity and fruit. First time some of the spike has been softened by spontaneous malo, something we don't encourage unless it comes knocking. It would appear to have been welcome. The most unfortunate thing is that this year I
will bottle the Millton wines under screwcap, something I am not in favour of however in order to stay in business, maintain restaurant listings and allow the younger generation to enjoy the fruits of our labours it would appear the correct thing to do. We did a wine show in the weekend and were the only producer for a country mile using cork (in the earlier vintage on show.....'

James adjusting flags in the vineyard