2014 vintage
Harvest Report 2014
by T. Edward Wines on September 22, 2014
Chantal Tortochot sent us the following report for her 2014 harvest at Domaine Tortochot, along with these stunning photographs. Thanks Chantal!
_____________
There was no winter in Burgundy with a lot of rain in autumn.
The months of February, March and April were mild, sunny, and dry. This allows an early development of the vines. June has been very beautiful, largely dry, and warm sometimes quite hot. So the flower time passed with some north Wind that made some millerandage. There was no risk of mildew and any other disease.
In the evening of Saturday, the 28th of June, a huge thunderstorm ravaged Pommard, Volnay, Meursault and Beaune. The down part of our Clos de Vougeot also received some hail (damage estimated has been to 15%) and also our new vines in Chambolle (10% damaged).
The weather in July and August has been mixed, warm with sunny periods, alternated with cool and cloudy weather. Rainfall has been high. Some grapes were burned by the hot sun in July, while the end of June hail damage led to a lack of leaf protection.
Organic viticulture makes beautiful grapes! (Vineyard of Champerrier, 55-years-old)
We know already that vintage 2014 will be a short crop. During all the year there was a steady cold feeling breeze.
August températures never reached 20°C, while it rained most days. At the end of August there was no concentration in the grapes, tannins remained green and the color of the grapes lacked. So we decided to change the date of harvest to the 17th of September 2014.
We needed urgently an Indian summer. The quality of the crop is made during the last 3 weeks.
September has been very sunny, hot températures, similar to summer températures. The maturation of the grapes has been optimum and the north Wind prevents the development of the rot.
So when we begin the harvest the maturation of the grapes is optimum , the tannins have matured, the color of the juice is good, the acidity has decreased, the malic acid has been partially consumed by the hot temperatures of September.
Colors of Autumn in Cote d’Or, Les Corvees
My daughter Eloise & her friends who come to help us during the weekend
Team Tortochot in the Vineyard Champerrier
The harvest at Champerrier
The sorting table at Domaine Tortochot
Reception of grapes into the winery, Domaine Tortochot
My team who makes the wines in the winery
The top of the vat just before fermentation
Ahh…the Indian Summer. Nice weather, good grapes, good quantities.
We hope to finish the harvest on next Wednesday.
2014 vintage
There was no winter in Burgundy with a lot of rain in autumn.
The months of february March and April were mild, sunny, and dry.
This allows an early development of the vines.June has been very beautiful, largely dry, and warm sometimes quite hot.
So the flower time passed with some north Wind that made some millerandage.
There was no risk of mildew and any other disease.
In the evening of saturday 28 th of June, a huge thunderstorm ravaged Pommard Volnay Meursault and Beaune.
The down part of our Clos de Vougeot received also some hail ( damage estimated has been to 15 %) and also our new vine in Chambolle (10 % of damage).
The weather in July and August has been mixed, warm , sunny periods, alternated with cool and cloudy weather.
Rainfalls has been high.
Some grapes have been burned by the hot sun in July while the end of june hail damage led to a lack of leaf protection.
We know already that vintage 2014 will be a short crop.During all the year there was a steady cold feeling breeze.
August températures have never reach 20° , while it has gone on to rain in the most days.
At the end of August there was no concentration in the grapes, tanins remained green and the color of the grapes lacked.
So we decided to change the date of harvest to the 17 th of september 2014.
We needed urgently an Indian summer.
The quality of the crop is made during the last 3 weeks.
September has been very sunny, hot températures, similar to summer températures.
The maturation of the grapes has been optimum and the north Wind prevents the development of the rot.
So when we begin the harvest the maturation of the grapes is optimum , the tannins have matured, the color of the juice is good, the acidity has decreased , the malic acid has been partially consummed by the hot temperatures of september.
