After a hot and dry summer, we were rejoicing when the rains came in late August. To be honest, there wasn’t a lot of rain but we were so happy to have some. Each time it rained, it was fine and dense and refreshing, just wonderful and what the vines needed. Fortunately, there was none of the dreaded G word – grele or hail……
Overall, everyone is happy that the grapes are in great condition and that there is quite a bit more of them this year. Many thanks to Gerard, Armand and their great teams. And now the work in the vineyards is over and the work in the cuveries is beginning …….
Vendanges started first on the Cote de Beaune in the second half of August. The grapes were in advance of previous years due to the hot and dry summer. The Cote de Nuits started picking in the last week of August.
Here are our Mercurey vines, already harvested by Armand and his team end August. Harvest for Gerard and his team started in the first week of September.
Similar to last year, I helped Christine to prepare the vendangeurs’ casse-croûte or mid morning tea break – except we don’t serve tea, but coffee! And in line with Burgundian tradition, there is even a little bit of wine for people who would like to fortify themselves.
This is Christine’s magnificent spread – note that white tablecloths are a family tradition here and these have been used by Christine’s mother in the past for other years’ casse-croûtes. There are fresh baguettes, paté, dry sausages, garlic sausages, Camembert and other cheeses, including La Vache qui Rit or the Laughing Cow (I remember this from my childhood!)
David and Gerard at the casse-croûte.
Here are our grapes from les Evocelles – the team finished picking at 11.45am on 7 September, just before it rained in the afternoon!
