Your "blue-blue" servitor, after having sprayed copper and sulfur on a Mistral day...
Dear wine lovers,
Mid May to Mid June is probably the most difficult time period for the vine farming. It is when they are growing the most and it is when they can easily catch fungus diseases like Mildiou and Oidium. Fortunately for us, this first half has been, so far, quite dry with even a lot of Mistral which, as we say here, naturally "sulfate pour nous". And even if this famous strong wind broke a few new vine shoots (which are green and long now and too soft to resist the wind), it actually did a natural green harvest which I would definitely have preferred to avoid in our 75 years old Grenache which produce such a low yield...but as we also say in France "On ne peut pas avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre" (you can't have your cake and eat it too).
This time period is also when we need to be careful with grape-worm and where we need to monitor weeds at a reasonable level before it is too dry to plowing the ground.
Grappe-worm : Can you see the worm ?
This means that it does not leave much time to the rest even if we found some to bottle the first half of our Dentelle red 08 and the last (snif) tank of Mistral red 07...Hoping to find those incredible flavors in a future vintage. Indeed, I quite like the Dentelle 08 as it truly and faithfully reflects its vintage, with less depth but some very nice spices. Last night, I have enjoyed it with a chicken curry and I have to admit that it was good.
Summer is almost there and if you are traveling in our area, don't hesiatate to pay us a visit (with a prior notive please by email or by phone at +33 6 15 10 52 01). We will be here most of the time.
At last, we may have two seats for harvest this year, which should take place the second half of September. I know some of you had expressed interest in this venture and if it is still the case, don't hesitate to contact me for more details.
Cheers,
Jean-Marc - Domaine Rouge-Bleu
Jean-Marc,
Because of the "economique crises" we will not be able to come this year for the harvest but hope that you will save us a place, peut-etre l'annee prochaine!
Warmest regards to you and Kristin,
Dev
Posted by: Devra Long | June 05, 2009 at 03:40 AM
Je suis curieux. Comment enlevez-vous le ver ? À la main? Mon grand-mère ferait ceci dans son jardin, les laissant tomber dans une bouteille d'essence. So much for my "French"! Also, I have talked w/Williams Corner Wine; they do not deliver to Roanoke, so I will drive to Charlottesville to purchase your wine. We are in the hinterlands!!
Regards, Pat
Posted by: Pat Cargill | June 07, 2009 at 01:07 PM
Another potential member of the "Blue men groupe" - nice to discover your blog and the picture - and the first one of a worm on the grapes:-)! They don't seem to exit in our vines here - and I do a lot of photographic research of all kind of insects in the vineyard too...
Just a question: is there a third part to having the cake and eat it in English too, like in French:-)?
Posted by: Iris | June 29, 2009 at 08:34 AM
My Dearest Jean-Marc,
What a fabulous photo of you "BLEU'. I must frame this photo.
XOXO'
MOMA-JULES
Posted by: Jules Greer | June 29, 2009 at 06:36 PM