One of the reasons for starting to bring in Cinsault on Saturday had been the weather forecast for Sunday and the predicted rain arrived that morning though only 10mm or so. Cinsault has very thin skins and rain can often cause the grapes to become prone to rot as skins burst with swelling juice. I have spent many days sorting such Cinsault over the last ten years. I was, therefore, a bit concerned on Monday morning when we started up again as the remaining Cinsault was due to arrive at the table. In fact, my worries proved groundless, perhaps the dry year meant the ground soaked up the rain more effectively.
I don’t recall such good quality Cinsault, it might be one of the highlights of the vintage, full of juice and good flavour. It is sometimes used for its own cuvée, 5SO and also for blending as part of Le Vin Des Amis. The only downside was the analysis showing low acidity but that is common with the variety.
The Cinsault comes from the Segrairals vineyard and the pickers moved across that vineyard for the next parcel, more Syrah, such an important part of the Coutelou production. The Syrah was quite small, plenty of flesh in the grapes but not a lot of juice despite the rain. This concentrated material will need blending to add acidity but will definitely add flavour. As the afternoon wore on Grenache arrived from La Garrigue at the other end of the village and proved to be another highlight of the season. Very good quality grapes, good acidity too so this will no doubt be a very useful tank for Jeff to use for blending.
Tuesday the 30th was one of my favourite days of the vendanges, Couleurs Réunies day. This cuvée has been around for the last few years and is made up of many varieties of all colours including from my favourite vineyard, Rome. White grapes such as Servant, Olivette, Aramon Blanc , Terret Blanc, different types of Muscat, Grenache Blanc and Clairette Musquée.
Gris grapes such as Riveyrenc, Grenache, Aramon and Clairette Rose. Red varieties such as Cinsault, Oeillade,Delizia Di Vaprio and Mourvedre. An ampelographer’s dream day, I had great fun looking through the cases, trying to identify them and, very often, being corrected by Jeff!
A good two days, one hundred hectolitre tanks filling up with grapes of good quality. We were steaming ahead, could we finish picking by the weekend?
amarchinthevines 