In the vineyards
25.07.2014
Côte d'OrWe are now healing the wounds.
The vines which have been slightly hit by hail are developing without any problem, those which have been more severely damaged are now starting a late production of young leaves. It is exhausting for the vine when the problem is repeated; some plots were hit by heavy hail storms for the third year in a row.
The sanitary state is good everywhere but we cannot take any credit for it as the year was easy.
Decent crop, and sometimes good in the vineyards spared by hail.
The failure of bloom will impact on the Chardonnay grapes in particular, but the berries have recently well developed.
Grape-picking could start around 11th September.
Chablis
No hail storm, hardly any disease.. .at last an easy year.
The vines are healthy; without being very low, the crop will not be of great quantity.
The failure of bloom is less noticeable but it is known that clusters which don't close when they have reached the stage called "bunch closure” do not produce a great yield.
Alternating periods of rain and heat generated a rather important mineralization, the leaves are dark green ... even too dark. Harvesting might start around 18th September.
Philippe J. DROUHIN