This is very sad news to hear from France and Chapel Down. Here in Germany it’s much the same. We were out on the patio soaking up the sun last week. We had packed our winter coats away and got the summer tyres on the car.
Then came snow and hail blizzards and the brass monkey invasion of 2021.
In Mainfranken, Northern Bavaria they were already factoring in a 25 to 30 percent loss after the first heavy overnight frost.
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Tragic news and will be a body blow for so many growers and winemakers. Will be digging deep into my reserves for a year or three (not a bad thing!) My William Fevre from 2011 and 2012 will be much loved.
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After @Rod_Smith review of the Bruce Jack 2000 Chardonnay matured under flor I managed to acquire a case at a very reasonable price and we broached one as an aperitif. Quite delicious - perhaps more vin jaune than Sherry but delicious. The chianti is the first of a case that has been in the Wine Society reserves for a few years and really showing well. Garnet colour suggests fully developed but the sour cherry fruit on the palate is still fresh and the tannins are holding up so I am very happy.
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The even sadder news is that they may well not be making very much at all this year. I think the frost has hit English vines just as badly, although some may not yet have budded (but this seems not very likely given how warm it had been previously).
In more pleasant wine update, I have just been lecturing Australia / New Zealand / USA / Canada and SA for some WSET Diploma students in Bordeaux. Always a thrill as an Englishman to be teaching wine, to French people, in Bordeaux!
But it’s a concentrated course so not really enough sample wines, although that not really my fault, I am the hired help, and actually standing in for a friend who normally does it but lives in the UK so cannot travel for obvious reasons. It has been nice for me to revisit my various trips to these now-more-exotic-than-ever places by painting word pictures and showing them some photographs.
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Some nice wines. Pine Ridge cab was one of our L3 samples last week and a very good wine indeed. Love the Hope Marguerite by Seb Beaumont - seems to consistently tick the boxes for good Chenin. For a whistle stop tour must have been fun.
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I attended a presentation on the effects of climate change in winemaking and for every degree Celcius change means a shift of 180 Kms south for an increase.
This contributes to the success in SE England and also Loire regions making better wine, we had some Cab Franc from a local producteur and much better than the first part of the decade.
Yes its been cold overnight here, we’re just east of La Rochelle and the temps were high last week by day then went cold with light frost over night at the weekend. Not good as it could nip the buds on everything.
Well here in down under Australia - in Tasmania it’s now warmed up so much they are able to plant Syrah vines which a few years ago was unheard of , it was Pinot Noir only being a very cool climate island
The effects of climate change , although the Syrah is pretty good, not the usual Aussie block buster type at all
Cheers
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I hear now that (northern) Italy was badly hit too. Nebbiolo is famously an early budder, but usually planted on slopes which do offer some protection from frost.
And not just grapes, but other fruit and vegetable crops. I’m not sure it is possible to stockpile kiwi fruit, but if it is and you can and want to, then you should…
Pretty
(Burgundy, photo: Vincent Dancer)
Not Pretty
(Barolo, photo: Alberto Cordero)
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Just to say that Naked Wines are having another fundraiser for Carmen’s “feed the kids”. It’s so heartwarming to see how much impact the donations have. 
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Currently enjoying a Casillero del Diablo merlot carmanere malbec blend, I didn’t know they even produced blends!. Still, easy drinking and excellent value all the same.
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Also invested in some Jadot Pouilly Fuissé Les Petites Pierres and some Chablis 1er Cru 
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