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. 

From having been very dry in April and May, June is now looking increasing wet. Rain very early this morning and a pretty miserable forecast for the rest of the week. Made a quick visit to see one of my favourite Cher Valley producers yesterday. "I've never seen so many cèpes in the woods at this time of year," they told us. You can be sure that if the conditions are right for mushrooms, then they are right for black rot and mildew in the vineyards. Also it is the middle of the flowering – not good!

Here is my weekly posting on Les 5 du Vin.

Thursday 10th June: torrential rain

No sooner had I blogged that it had so far been very dry for much of this year than the heavens opened and we had a torrential rain storm with thunder and lightening. The road was rapidly transformed into a stream and water poured from the drain pipes. It subsequently rained steadily for much of Friday night /early Saturday morning.

Stats for Tours from Météo France shows that the average rainfall (46.7mm – period 1971-2000) for the whole of June had already fallen by 11th June (42mm). Most of it falling in the last three days – 9th-11th. In comparison there was only 16mm in April against an average of 55.5mm and 30mm in May against an average of 64.4mm.

Although we undoubtedly need some rain to make up for the shortage in April and May the timing is far from ideal as the vines have started flowering here. Damp, wet conditions are not what you want for a successful flowering. However, it may not be too bad as there has been a big sortie of potential bunches this year, so some reduction of the crop could be helpful. Perhaps then I won't be sued by the local producers for having unleashed the rain gods!

Cabernet Franc starting to flower

After a sunny first week out in Touraine, the weather changed over the weekend with rain overnight Friday/Saturday and further showers over the rest of the weekend, although with some bright intervals and cooler than it has been. This morning it's raining steadily. Although it has been very dry and we need the rain, now is not tghe best time as the vines are starting to flower.

Dry warm days with a lot of wind are best conditions for a successful flowering, which can be all over in around three to five days. Cool and damp is not good as the flowering with be less successful provoking coulure (failure to set) and millerandage (called hen and chicken as only some of the grapes in a bunch develop properly). It may not be all bad news as 2009 is potentially a generous harvest, so some coulure etc. will naturally reduce the yields and save producers from having to cut of excess bunches. A difficult flowering is also likely to mean various in grape maturity as the flowering will tend to be long and drawn out.

At the moment Méteo France is forecasting a better day tomorrow in Indre et Loire. Rain again on Wednesday, some sun on Thursday, rain Friday and then clearing up from Saturday and looking promising into the early part of next week. All that, of course, may change...........

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Noon update: still pouring with rain. Looking like a case of bad timing. Furthermore anyone who hasn't treated against mildew may well have problems as with this much rain it won't be possible to use tractors in the vineyards for a few days.

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12.40: The noon update appears to have done the trick – it's stopping raining ..... at least for the moment.

22.30: .... at least for the moment was the operative word. Some very heavy showers during the afternoon and now a thunderstorm with heavy rain and perhaps a touch of hail.