Autumn has arrived in the Jura and so have Granny and GP, and so I've managed to get GP working on the blog. Such dereliction of duty- what an example to set us young folk! As for my wine empire, well, it's pretty good news. In September the harvest was delayed because there had been much less sun this year. Probably a good thing, because Daddy didn't start bottling his final 2009 bottles until the week before, thus creating some space in the vats for this year's offering. So now we have added to the Ploussard Rosé, Red, and Champ Fort (the larger plot in Mesnay) two whites- Savagnin and Savagnin/Chardonnay, a Red Trousseau, "So True" (it's a French joke-Norman Wisdom would have been impressed) and the final top quality Ploussard- Cote de Feule. A total bottling of 9,500, but now only some 8,000 left, so get in quickly. An order for 150 bottles has just been received and there is some restaurant interest for the spring. GP is looking to take a few cases back to England, "for medicinal purposes" apparently, but all the medicine I have to take tastes fairly dreadful and GP seems to enjoying his tipple -"Jolly good, old boy, but just a drop more to be sure....".
GP and Granny couldn't make this year's vendanges as they clashed with teaching, but Mami and Papi, Auntie Christelle and lots of Mummy and Daddy's friends descended on Mesnay for the two weekends 25/26 September and 2/3 October. A bit damp the first weekend, but quite pleasant the second. Here I am just testing the qualité, Mami is preparing the fondue for the pickers, Papi is picking the grapes, and Mummy is next to
Marie-Laure wearing the Hughes Beguet Team Shirt! GP keeps on telling me that some bloke called Confuscius said a picture is worth a thousand words. Many thanks to all the pickers and helpers.
Here are Daddy and Gilles emptying the grapes into the de-stalking machine. They are then either fed through the large press (think space rocket with chains to break up the grapes) to produce the white wine or kept in a tank to give the colour and tannins for the rosé and reds. The 2010 red grapes, which have been in the vats for 3 weeks, will be pressed next week- Daddy has a new press, about the size of a barrel, for the purpose. The really good news, after losing a fair amount of the crop to odium and badgers, is that the remaining grapes already seem to be producing really good quality wine. GP and Daddy seemed to spend quite a long time checking yesterday- obviously still secondary fermentation needed but apparently lower yields often produce superior wine; there should be some 8,000 bottles of the 2010 vintage.
Here are Daddy and Gilles emptying the grapes into the de-stalking machine. They are then either fed through the large press (think space rocket with chains to break up the grapes) to produce the white wine or kept in a tank to give the colour and tannins for the rosé and reds. The 2010 red grapes, which have been in the vats for 3 weeks, will be pressed next week- Daddy has a new press, about the size of a barrel, for the purpose. The really good news, after losing a fair amount of the crop to odium and badgers, is that the remaining grapes already seem to be producing really good quality wine. GP and Daddy seemed to spend quite a long time checking yesterday- obviously still secondary fermentation needed but apparently lower yields often produce superior wine; there should be some 8,000 bottles of the 2010 vintage.
More news- solar panels have arrived chez HB which will hopefully keep me cozy for the next 30 years or so -will let you know. In the meantime I'm trying not to get GP too excited- he always seems to want to chase me- I have to laugh to humour him; old people- what are they like?!
Look forward to speaking to you all soon.
Gros bisous
Bastian xxx
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