Our viticulture Manager and Domaines director Marie-Véronique Blanc gave us a vineyard update at 08/30/23.
Marked by the heatwave in the second half of August, the vineyards shook off their dry leaves thanks to a strong Mistral wind. 30 millimetres of rain helped the grapes to reach maturity.
As after every hot spell, some varieties and early-ripening sectors are showing berry wilt (Viognier and Syrah). Fortunately, this is a minority phenomenon and will not lead to a sharp fall in yields. Only downy mildew, which was particularly virulent this year, left its mark on the foliage and some bunches, but fortunately the damage was very localised and random.
By 30 August, the harvest had barely begun, and only varieties such as Chardonnay, Viognier and Floréal had been picked. The rosé harvest is starting and should intensify in the first week of September, as for most of the whites. The cool mornings are very good for us, for two reasons: the quality of the juices, which are pure and brilliant, and, more prosaically, the energy savings in the cellar.
