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Good morning,
Due to the severe frost in early April the volume of the 2008 vintage is well below normal. Overall in Muscadet the estimate is that the frost destroyed from 50% to 70% of the crop. Here at the beginning of the harvest, we hoped for 25 hl/ha but we actually got 18 hl/ha. With around 120 ha – 85 of Melon de Bourgogne – Domaine des Herbauges is the largest producer in the Côtes de Grandlieu appellation.
Fortunately in September the weather was good here: sunny but not very hot – the maximum temperature was just over 20˚C and the nights were decidedly fresh. It was a lot drier than during August.
We checked the grapes on Monday the 15th of September, but they weren’t properly ripe. So we did start the harvest the next Monday. Waiting was very stressful for us as many of our neighbours were busy picking!
However, our grapes were healthy and we knew that the patience would give us more chance to make better wines.
Finally we obtained 1,5% vol. and lost 2 points of acidity ; our wines will be richer, fruitier and well-balanced.
In our cellars, the alcoholic fermentations are ending and let our wines express their power, aromas, and fruity. During the maturing we will stir slowly and regularly the wines; their lees will feed them.
The future 2008 vintage will be fruity, fresh and well-balanced. It is a pity that “Mother Nature” gave just a little!
Jérôme CHOBLET
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