A quick visit early evening on Saturday after Vitloire to Epeigné's sole 'classified' vineyard: Clos Chossay. As elsewhere in the commune the vines are in full flower with some tiny nascent grapes beginning to form. Grape flowers are certainly not dramatic as other fruit subjects like cherries and almonds are. Just a white stamen but as with other fruits flowering is crucial as it will determine the size of the crop and whether all the grapes will ripen at about the same time. 

Vines flowering in mid-May – jamais vue ça! (photo: Mark Robertson)

There are now reports of vines flowering in many parts of the Loire with signs of flowers appearing by last weekend and possibly even earlier. This is best part of a month in advance of last year's flowering and days ahead of very early years like 1989 and 2003, when flowering was towards the end of May. You have to go way back to 1893 to find a year when the vines have been so far in advance.

Normally you count 100 days from flowering to picking, so some Loire producers will be picking in August unless there is a very cold spell or the vines shut down due to drought stress. Many producers, who often take a short holiday before the harvest begins, will be having to change their vacation plans!

Sauvignon Blanc

Late yesterday afternoon I had a quick look at the grapes in Epeigné-les-Bois bijou vineyard – Clos Chossay – the village's sole 'grand cru'. They have very recently taken on Bruno Curassier (Domaine de la Grange, Bléré) as their viticultural and vinif adviser. This year's crop is looking promising, although some of the lower vines were hit by late frost in May. The Sauvignon Blanc harvest is likely to be still a good week away.

 

Cabernet  Franc

Côt netted against the birds