The
French harvest is now under way and we are forecasting the lowest yield since at
least 2000. The latest estimates are 10% below the averages of the last five
years.
The expected production is 46 million hectolitres, even less than the already low yield of 2007.
BORDEAUX - BURGUNDY - BEAUJOLAIS -LOIRE VALLEY - RHONE VALLEY - LANGUEDOC - ILE DE BEAUTE/CORSICA - COTES DE GASCOGNE
After a mild and showery winter, spring was
unsettled and rainy.
The
mid-flowering stage was observed in mid-June. The end of flowering was very
long.
The 2008 harvest
is characterised by low
volumes.
Yields are low for the
white grape varieties. The anticipated loss is between 50% and 60% depending on
the area. The ripening process was long in some vineyards, and the inconstant
August temperatures accentuated the lateness.
So we are expecting a low yield, suggesting a good quality
potential and concentration levels.
A low volume yield is also expected in the red varieties. The
2008 harvest looks like being one of the least abundant of recent
decades.
At Château Magnol,
the picking of our Merlots (the earliest grape variety) began on 29th
September.
It is a little early to judge the quality of
this vintage but the Merlot musts are rich, well-structured and densely
coloured. Bernard Fulloy, Cellarmaster at Château Magnol, is keeping a close eye
on the weather, watching out for the perfect time to pick the
Cabernets.
The Burgundy vineyard benefited
from very mild and sunny weather at the beginning of 2008. The spring brought
more contrast. The month of May alternated summery spells with cooler rainy
periods.
The budburst took place
between the 20th and 25th April according to the microclimate of each plot.
These dates, comparable to those observed in 2006, are around ten days later
than the averages of the last 14 years.
A carefully chosen phytosanitary program mastered by our
vinegrowing partners kept the oïdium and mildew at bay, and the grapes are
looking healthy.
The harvest has only just begun. We are
looking forward to judging the concentration of the juice in the coming
weeks.
Numerous climatic incidents
have been reported in the area this year, the most important being the frost on
7th April. The Nantes area was quite badly hit, and to a lesser extent the
western vineyards of the Loire Valley. The yield will thus be around 26% below
those of recent years. The potential production is likely to be below 3 million
hectolitres.
Despite this
capricious weather, the flowering phase took place in good conditions with a
favourable month of June. The heavy rain of late August and early September
brought with it strong winds, limiting the effects of humidity (mould).
The harvest dates were within the
norm. Picking began on the 15th September in the Muscadet
vineyards.
2008 is one of the latest
harvests of the last 30 years in the Rhone Valley.
The Grenache and the Syrah vineplants were less laden with
bunches than usual. The Grenache suffered from the rain and temperature
differences.
Generally speaking,
health problems such as flower abortion (causing flowers and young fruit to fall
off the plant) will result in lower volumes.
The picking began around the 20th September. Our partners’
grapes are looking healthy and the musts are already
concentrated.
The autumn and winter of
2007/2008 were quite dry in this area, especially in the Aude and the Pyrenees
Orientales. The eastern side of the region was wetter however.
The end of May and the beginning
of June brought heavy rains all over this area as the first flowers
blossomed.
The severe attacks of
mildew during the summer had an adverse effect on the yields in the Gard and
parts of the Hérault.
There was
also a real risk of oïdium throughout the Languedoc Roussillon
vineyards.
At the end of August,
when the harvest began a few days later than in 2007, the yield announced was
even lower than in 2007, which was already historically low, i.e. around 13.4
Mhl.
As for the quality, the drastic selection and rigour
of our partners will nonetheless make this vintage a good cuvée.
ILE DE BEAUTE - CORSICA
The buds burst two weeks
earlier than usual, in the first two weeks of March, thanks to a beautifully
mild winter. An optimistic yield forecast was established at 380 000 hl in
mid-July.
This figure was brought
down to 345 000 hl after the lack of sunshine and modest temperatures of July.
The vines suffered from flower abortion, berry shot and then mildew
attacks.
The high temperatures of
the last weeks have allowed the ripening process to catch up and finish in good
conditions, and our partners have begun harvesting. The grapes are looking good
and the quality is promising.
The loss of volume for the
white grape varieties is variable according to the
vineyards.
The Sauvignon Blanc yields will certainly be
low, suggesting a good quality potential with a good concentration and a
pleasant vivacity in the palate. The acidity in the grapes augurs well for good
quality musts and wines.
The reactivity of our partners allowed a good mastery of the difficulties.
The vintage has brought us low volumes of production but also rich, concentrated grapes.
Watch this space for more details in the weeks to come as we follow their progress… Back to the top