2012 vintage
Despite a good start to the season – with March and April warmer than usual – things went downhill after that.
Temperatures turned obstinate in May and June, when the weather was cool and rainy. Flowering – which took place around about the 20th of June – was slow and problematic and there was a lot of shatter (grapevine flowers not being pollinated properly and thus not turning into berries).
The result of this was to be berries of inconsistent size which were often smaller than usual. Smaller berries are going to result in smaller yields, however this will result in a plus side in terms of quality, which will be better than usual due to a higher solid-liquid (grape skins plus grape seeds versus juice) ratio and a better acidity level.
From May through to the end of July our vines were particularly under attack and under stress. As a result we expended much energy overcoming the many obstacles facing us. Significantly above-average rainfall in May and June caused brown rot and then powdery mildew contaminations to appear (as many as 20 brown rot contaminations were identified by experts from the Chamber of Agriculture). Large-scale treatment of the two diseases took place, at a sustained pace. Fortunately, Gevrey-Chambertin was spared by hailstones. We thus decided to thin out the leaves on all of our vines on the northern side, to enable the air to circulate better and to facilitate the ripening of grapes.
The current estimate as regards volumes puts them 15% down on last year, at about 35 hectolitres per hectare.
Fortunately, the return of good weather, winds from the north and big temperature differences between mornings and afternoons have meant a return to optimum grape-ripening conditions, from the 15th of August and up to the date on which grape-picking is to begin.
All of the outbreaks of grey rot have been halted.
The sugar content of grapes now appears to have reached its peak, but large variations exist from one parcel to another.
Because of this we are deciding to start the grape harvest this coming Saturday – our grapes are small, attractive and thick-skinned, fully ripe and are phenologically mature.
Everything is already causing us to think back to the 2010 vintage and we are starting to hope and dream that this year’s vintage will be a great one.
