"Binage" hoeing around baby vine.

 

Dear Friends,

As I mentioned many times, our old vines are our current treasure and we need to maintain them alive as long as possible. Therefore, if old vines don't really need much care, our baby vines (4 years Grenache and 1 year white myriad) do need attention...

As our farming philosophy is to develop live, underground and on the ground, we have, as a result, many weeds. Those weeds don't really compete with our old vines who are deeply rooted down but can compete with our babies... So, once a year, when all weeds have germinated, we have to pull out those weeds at a feet circle round the baby vine. Doing, this, we make sure weeds will not kill the baby vine but we still leave some in order to tell a message to the young vine saying : Go develop your roots since you have competition around.
Watch this video which will explain this better :

This year and after our third attempt, we have finally managed to keep our bees. Our bee hive is doing well and we are so happy to have them contribute to move pollen around us and participate to our yeast melting pot :

Also, I would like to thank all the people who have taken the time to come visit. Special thanks to Lew and Scott for their reports which you can read  here and watch on this very professional video :

Many of you have asked why we named our vineyard "Domaine Rouge-Bleu". Part of the answer is in the following video and it will also be a way to celebrate our National Holiday :
 

Our 09 reds will be released after the coming harvest. Dentelle first which should be available for the Holidays, Mistral then which is still a bit young but currently smoothing down in our used barrels...and Lunatique which will have to age another year and which, I can tell you, should be amazing.
In the meantime, our 08 reds drink very nicely now with this typical 08 acidity which allows to drink them cool...and this helps in this very very ot summer. All our importers have the 08 in stock now so thank you for supporting our wines and contacting them by clicking on this link.
And for French deliveries, you are more than welcome to order directly through this form.

Well, we have another last spray of mixed sulfur, copper and tea herbs to perform and then it will be time to take some days off...When we come back from Sicily (where I plan to taste some wines of course), it will be time to check on our harvest tools...I can't believe we will soon crush our 4th harvest !

Enjoy the summer,

Cheers,

Jean-Marc
Domaine Rouge-Bleu 

Comments

[Jens, Copenhagen, Denmark]

Hi Jean-Marc,

Thanks for some very informative videos and a nice summer to you, too.

When in Sicily, I think you should take the time to visit the following domaine - Cos - where I spent a few hours in October 2007: http://www.cosvittoria.it/

They follow your philosophy in winemaking and besides experiment with amphoras for fermentation (just like the Virets in St. Maurice s/Eygues).

[Jens, Copenhagen, Denmark]

Hi Jean-Marc,

Have just found a link to the wine fermented in amphoras, I was mentioning in my earlier comment:
http://www.cosvittoria.it/english/vini_pithos.htm

Cheers

[Tim Stevens]

Beautiful presentation through the short videos of your glorious wine environment. Thanks to you, Jean-Marc and Kristin, for sharing insights into what you do. Please send us more!

[Sandy Maberly]

Enjoyed the post and videos. I'm really excited about joining this year's harvest. I'm feeling good, getting fit, eating right and will be in fine form come September. see you all soon!

[joie carmel,ca]

Your wines need to make it down to my area. Monterey county , California. There are several good wine shops in the area and quite a few French restaurants. The area is quite wine savy. Even more locally there are several small wineries in Carmel Valley. Always room for new wines.

[Marianne Rankin]

Very interesting videos! I'd be pleased to watch more any time.

I'm considering getting a grapevine or two and seeing if I can grow grapes. After that, who knows?

[Jeanne]

Great videos, but I thought Rouge-Bleu was an old name Kristen came up with from High School. You are not telling all!!!

[Johnette]

Where can we buy your wine in the U.S. ? Is there a place to order online?

[Jean-Marc Espinasse]

Thanks for your comments and inputs guys.

Joie : You are welcome to contact Hiram at [email protected] our wines are actually sold in your area and he can also offer you a shipping solution

Jeanne : Yes...but I am not going to unveil the whole thing in one time

Johnette : There are several shops in the country where you can shop online with our wines. Depending on where you are, check out this link (http://a-la-recherche-du-vin.typepad.com/domaine_rougebleu/2008/03/o-trouver-nos-v.html) and see where is the closest retailer. You can also contact the importer the closest to you who could help out.

Cheers,

Jean-Marc

[Kathy from San Anselmo, CA]

Jean-Marc: I enjoyed the videos and your expertise in taking care of your babies. I like how you don't actually dispose of the weeds after pulling them, you leave them on the ground to turn into compost. I like all of these tips. Good luck. I plan to buy a bottle of your wine in Oakland, CA.

Kathy Sasges

[Michele Kawamoto]

I love the farming lesson videos. It's great to see what is happening all year long. And, congratulations on the bees! Ah, they are marvelous creatures, when they don't sting! :-)

[laura]

THIS IS FANTASTIC! Thanks for the update and the terrific videos! :) ANd a HUGE CONGRATS on the Aug 2010 Bon Appetit article! :)

[Suzanne, Monroe Township, NJ]

Thanks for the updates! Have a great time in Sicily. Maybe you will visit the Cusumano vineyard. They make some nice whites that are especially nice during the summer. We plan to see you the last week in September if you are not to busy with le vendange. Can't wait for Lunatique ... but of course I will.

[Suzanne, Monroe Township, NJ]

Jean-Marc,
Congratulations on having your 2009 Dentelle Rose named one of the Top Ten Hot Picks for summer by Bon Appetit magazine. And to think I have 11 bottles of it in my basement.

[June Kelly]

Jean-Mark,
So enjoyed your videos ... and very pleased that Bon Appetit magazine recognized your lovely Rose! When will your wines be available in the San Diego area? Here, we have multitudes of wine lovers,dozens and dozens of great wine shops and extensive wine lists in our many restaurants. All of the above need to become acquainted with "Rouge-Bleu"!!

[Jean-Marc]

Dear June,

I have never been to work the market in San Diego...so far (I know I should have...). But you are welcome to contact our importers [email protected] - [email protected] who should know if, hopefully, our wines are in SD area. The closest I know for sure is the Wine House in LA. See all details at http://a-la-recherche-du-vin.typepad.com/domaine_rougebleu/2008/03/o-trouver-nos-v.html
Thanks for your support
Cheers,

[Denise]

Mon ami - I have not been to the site in a while, but needed to congratulate you on the Bon Appetit Rose showing. Of course, we former vendagers knew all along it was going to be a great Rose - and noted as much each day we tasted it while it was maturing in the tank. Wine of the summer, Provencal gods. :)

Take care, have a good, tasting time (and rest) in Sicily. A votre sante!