It’s November already – where has this year gone to? From a grape growing perspective 2013 has been an exceptional year in France but sadly not in a good way – its reported to have been the worst for 30 years! On the positive side we’ve learnt an enormous amount and there’s also been a great sense of community amongst our farming neighbours based mainly on gallows humour. I could explain more about the perfect storm that has been the weather in 2013 but Gavin Quinney of Chateau Bauduc has already done it so much better than I ever could so if you’d like to know more take a look http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/a201309263.html. We’re further South and East than Bordeaux but the conditions here have been very similar. Quite a ride especially for our 2nd vintage!
Now all the grapes are safely in and most of the (alcoholic) fermentations have recently finished. This weekend we’ve been taking some of the red wine off its skins – a satisfying job. Jobs in the winery in the coming days – taking the whites off their gross lees and putting some of our 2012 red into barrels.
I don’t want to be a lawyer about this but Jack is defintiely wearing a suit here. Boilersuit, maybe…but still a suit….
C