Waiting for dryer days.
24. Oktober 2007 | 15:11
When the vineyards dry off the selective harvest can start. Concerns not about quality but about quantity.
The leaves are falling from the vines. The vines have stopped feeding them. The grapes are now free and well aired. A cork-like layer in the stem of the bunches practically seals them off from the vines. This means that the rain water getting into soil right now no longer has an impact on the berries - on the outside the berries have a protective, wax-like layer insulating them from moisture.
The cold weather means that there is hardly any noble rot. We will harvest the great vineyards only when they are fully dry. The harvesters will work late, slowly, and very selectively.
At this moment, we are not worried about quality: the grapes are showing wonderful fruit aromas, they are mild and complex. But the quantity is reducing with every passing day: animals, birds and people who are out for a walk J are all contributing... In addition to that, only a part of the grapes will make the grade during the harvest. The most valuable grapes are netted in, to protect them from various species of gourmet.
This is a year in which one has to take risks and invest a lot of work to reach top qualities we are looking for in our single vineyard reserves.
