2007 harvest

Each year is different, for the plant, and also for the winegrower.

The difficult flowering period in Champagne had an influence on the grapes, and on the harvest. The flowers began at different dates, due to the difficult climate at this period. A hot winter and the rain during the growth of the vines obliged us to work during all the weekends (the only 2 sunny days we had were Saturday and Sunday on 2 month).

The global flowering period was also very early (about 3 weeks sooner than in 2005 and 2006). At this period we were scared of a too early grape harvest time. Finally, the date decided by the CIVC (comité interprofessionnel des vins de Champagne) was the 27 of August. That date sounds very early considering the low maturity of the fruits. We decided to begin on September the 3, a week after our colleagues. This decision seems to be now, the key for a good harvest. In the region, people who began very early obtain very strict wine, without all the maturity and the power of the grapes.

At home, we can now say that we are happy with this 2007 harvest. This year was for us a real very good year for the black skin grape varieties (10,2 to 10,6° for the Meunier, and from 10 to 11° for the Pinot noir). Concerning the Chardonnay, and considering the longer maturity of this grape variety, we wait about 4 days without picking to obtain their “phenolic“ maturity. We had about 9,8° to 10° for this late grape variety, with a nice balance between Sugar and acidity.

Here are some pictures of the “Press Team” and of grapes.