Finally, it’s been raining in the vines.
We have had 120mm in the last month and fingers crossed that there will be more to come.
There is one thing I can tell you as a vigneron, lots of rain and high humidity can make life difficult while very little rain can make life near impossible.
We have had three drought years in a row, which has dramatically reduced our cropping in the last couple of years.
Like most challenges, they demand various levels of adaptations which in return can deliver you a deeper understanding of what you are seeking.
It is already recognised that vines sending their roots deeper into the soil in search of nutrients and water often positively impact the quality of juice.
This has certainly been my finding in the 2023 and 2024 vintages.
My Picking Criteria Has Begun To Change.
Instead of waiting for a picking window when the levels of sugars, acids and phenolic maturity are harmonious and satisfying. I’m now realizing certain vineyards at lower sugar levels achieve a high-pitched tension in the fruit which is both delicate and complex. Reminding me of my walks in the Pyrenees where tasting a wild strawberry or raspberry can send your head into a giddy space beyond anything commercial. The resulting wines lose a level of fruit concentration but gain in transparency, freshness and drinkability. I’m hoping that you recognise and enjoy these qualities when the 2023 and 2024 wines reach the market.
Changes In The Vineyard
The extremely low disease pressures in the vineyards during the last three years has allowed me to focus more on the metabolism/photosynthesis of the plant itself.
Many sulphur and copper treatments for odium and mildew have been replaced by compost teas, algae-based bio stimulants and the biodynamic treatments, 500P and 501.
These treatments to the leaves encourage a healthy downward flow of sap through activating photosynthesis and is reciprocated by an upward flow of nutrients from the soil. This increased movement of sap within the plant reduces disease pressures and strengthens the plants immunity system.
Project 108
In 2018 we started a small negociant offshoot of Les Clos Perdus called Project 108. The number 108 has strong spiritual, astrological and mathematical connections. The weight of the number encourages me to stay true to its aim of producing clean enjoyable natural wines without any additives, finning or filtration. The information gained from the project also informs me as a winemaker on how best to improve and construct the Les Clos Perdus wines. The learning curve continues.