At the beginning of the Winter an important storm with rain and wind swept over France causing a lot of material damage especially in the forests. The vines however did not suffer and the finnally relatively mild winter temperatures resulted in a normal budspring mid-April. The vegetation grew fast without any incidents from climat nor natural diseases.
The flowering took place as usual early June and afetr fruitset the number of grapes per vine appeared important but not as much as in 1999.
At this stage it promises to be an early harvest. The weather in June was quite nice where July was covered and stormy.
The maturing of the grapes started at the beginning of August but the real nice weather commences after ten days and will last for over three weeks when another perturbation appears.From the 4th of September wonderfull conditions come forward assuring an exceptionnal maturity of the Chradonnay grapes despite the storm of the 12th September. The weather at harvest time was sunny and warm with winds dominantly from South.
Start of the harvest
12th September for Pinot Noir
17th September for Chardonnay
26th September for Chablis
End of Harvest
19rd September for Pinot Noir
24th September for Chardonnay
04th October for Chablis
The quality of the Harvest 2000
As in 1999, the yield of the 2000 harvest is important for the two grapevarieties (only 10 to 15% less than 1999). The Pinot Noir suffered from the weather conditions, resulting into damage due to borrytis. The phenolic maturity was not consistent so the selection of grapes in the vinyard and over a sorting-table in the cellar was crucial.
We expect tender pleasant wines but not to be compared to their predecessors from 1999 who were exceptionnal.
On the other hand the Chardonnay grapes did resist to all these climatic agressions and we were even surprised about the overall health quality of the grapes. The good weather incited us for more patience so we did. If the sugar level of the grapes was just good it is especially the balance (acidity - sugar - Quality of the skins) that makes us optimistic for a very good vintage.
The wines will keep better than the previous vintages of 1998 and 1999. The wines are dry, a bit austere with a beautifull terroir expression.
Franck Grux
Intermediary situation
Situation Vineyards end of June 2000
The vineyards have met a fast growth since budburst. The flowering was early June which is quite exceptionnal supposing an early harvest as well around the 11th of September.
Following the flowering the weather was much more cloudy causing an extended fruitset between the different villages supposing an extended maturation. The high temperatures set in since proving temperatures normally met in August.
The fruitset was quite important obliging a green harvest in order to control the yields leaving 6 to 7 grapes per vine. This way we will preserve the best concentration and maturity for this harvest.
Today at the first week of July we have 1 week in advance compared to the normal situation.
Sofar we haven’t met any real problems thanks to the good weather conditions. The biggest threat today is hail storms.
Bertrand Guillemaud (Vineyard Manager)
