I did a quick tour of the vines this morning, we start harvest tomorrow (Monday 21st). There is a minor emergency with some vines so that we need to pick them before the main harvest starts on Wednesday. The drought which I wrote about in this post has put vines under stress. I also mentioned in the last post that on June 29th when we were all out tasting through Jeff’s 2022 wines there was a storm. In fact, 16mm of rain fell at one end of Puimisson, Segrairals vineyard for example. However, it was so localised that at the other end of the village there was no rain.

The vines in those vineyards are particularly stressed, particularly certain grape varieties, Castets, Morastel and Muscat in Peilhan, the whole of Flower Power (Font D’Oulette) with its 20+ varieties, and the young Clairette in Sainte Suzanne. Even though the grapes aren’t particularly ripe Jeff feels we need to collect them tomorrow so that the vines don’t become any more stressed as that could affect their health next year and even longer.

Vines under water stress first look to grow enough foliage and then to produce and ripen the fruit. This is their means of reproduction and the vine will seek to put every ounce of strength, every drop of water and sap into those aims. Even at risk to their own health. Jeff has to look after those vines and protect them from themselves in effect.

Those vines were the ones I visited this morning. I noticed two things, the size of the vines and the size of their grapes. The vines by now are usually taller than me (1m83 or just about 6ft), these were nowhere near as high, 1.5m maybe, 5ft at most. The grapes are generally smaller, not as juicy as usual. I’m sure Jeff will come up with something to make the most of what these vines have struggled hard to provide, they deserve recognition for their battle.

I mentioned to Jeff another observation. The Syrah of Ste. Suzanne has struggled, the Grenache is fine. The Macabeu there is healthy, the Clairette is in difficulty. Could it be that Spanish varieties have coped better than local, French varieties? He didn’t dismiss my thoughts so it may be worth another look. Remember Jeff planted Xarel-lo recently too, a Catalan grape used to heat. Is there a portent of the future here?

It’s not all doom and gloom though. Jeff was keen to say this morning that he is confident of the rest of the grapes such as the lovely Grenache Gris in the photo as the top of this post. There are plentiful bunches and some are big and bountiful, especially where that rain on the 29th brought relief. He is more confident this year than last, he said, that the harvest will be good. Let the games begin.