A threatening sky with outstanding colors around Dentelles de Montmirail. Which color is going to be this coming vintage ?
Dear Friends,
After the difficult 1992 and 2002 vintages, many of the Southern Rhône producers already had the apprehension of this coming new "2" one.
Well, so far, what we can say is that this 2012 vintage has not been the easiest. It started with a big frost wave which damaged some vines which were actually about to resume working after a very mild winter. This frost has also created a later blooming for our Dear old vines Grenache and unfortunately, a bit of "coulure" which happens at the flowering season, when we have too much rain...
Coulure on Grenache. All the brown is the "abortion" of future grapes
And rain, we did have a lot this Spring...just when you would like not to have some. Now, Mr Mildiou is around the corner and we hope it won't go from leaf to grape.
I remember quite well, back in 2002 as I attended the annual "Fête de la Véraison" in Cheateauneuf du Pape which happens the first WE of August to celebrate the end of the farming season when grapes start chagning color... All the producers were so happy and this, so far fantastic farming seson and this expected beautiful vintage... which ended in a nightmare.
So, actually, all hopes are permitted because even if a vintage is actually the outcome of 365 days, the last 30 days are the most critical. In our case, there is many hopes since now the Mildiou is gone (2-3 days in a row with temperature about 33° C have now got rid of it), we actually have our biggest crop ever with Carignan and Syrah and the "coulure" on Grenache has been compensated by more clusters... not to mention that a bit of coulure always gives better clusters since there are less berries on them.
Hear the cicadas singing to our beautiful Carignan grapes to mature them...
So, let's hope that this last leg of the farming will be kind with us so we can stop this number "2" malediction.
Talk to you after the harvest when we know...
Jean-Marc
Domaine Rouge-Bleu
My thoughts are with you for a surprisingly wonderful harvest.
Posted by: Margaret | July 09, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Go Mother Nature, go! Do your magic so the harvest will be "fruitful." :)
Posted by: Voie de Vie | July 09, 2012 at 05:51 PM
Just drank a bottle of Lunatique (while watching & listening to the world premier of the Frozen Planet at the Hollywood Bowl) & hope this years harvest will will as good.
Posted by: Susan Carter | July 09, 2012 at 07:12 PM
Bon chance avec ton recolte (harvest) or is the word (vindage)?
Kathleen
Posted by: Kathleen from Connecticut | July 10, 2012 at 06:08 PM
Jean-Marc, I wish you all the best of luck with this season's grapes. Please ask Kristi to post pictures of the progress from time to time. I will miss being there in the thick of things, but I will be undergoing knee surgery about the time that you are picking the rose grapes this year. It will speed my recovery to hear how things are progressing and I am hoping that you have a peak season and a splendid crush! I hope that your shoulder has healed well and that you suffer no further injuries!
Take care,
Caroline
Posted by: Caroline | July 12, 2012 at 09:17 PM
Joyce and the "ladies from Boston" wish you a successful harvest.
Posted by: joyce minosh | July 13, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Wishing you a beautiful, bountiful harvest in '12!
Posted by: Pat - Roanoke, VA | July 13, 2012 at 02:28 PM
Cicadas bring good luck, no? I hope all goes well as these grapes come to fruition. Maybe 2012 will be the best vindage yet for DRB!
Posted by: Suzanne, Monroe Twp., NJ | July 13, 2012 at 06:29 PM
Thanks a lot for all wishes.
Weather is perfect now...a bit of wind and some sun.
Caroline : We will post lots of pictures during harvest of course. We will miss our 2011 "Harvest Queen" (like we will miss all previous pickers, like Denise who also commented above with "Voie de Vie")
Cheers,
Posted by: Chief Grape | July 16, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Thanks for the update- I hope you had a nice Quatorze Juillet. I celebrated mine with a bottle of your Dentelle.
Posted by: Dave Kapsiak | July 16, 2012 at 07:28 PM
Good luck with your new life on the coast. I feel a little sad though, to realize that we have been sitting below the mulberry tree for the last time tasting the wines of Domaine Rouge-Bleu. Hope to see you all here in Copenhagen one day.
Posted by: Jens from Copenhagen | August 30, 2012 at 12:04 AM
Queen's University flies the flag for the arts in Northern Ireland and beyond.
Posted by: Natasha Golinsky | May 15, 2013 at 04:57 PM