The 2024 harvest is underway!

We launched our harvest campaign a couple of days ago, on Friday 20 September – very late in the season!

We had got into the habit of starting picking in August for several years, but this year proved such a marked change from previous years, especially the scorching heat experienced in 2023, that the harvest schedule was completely overturned. The exceptionally wet and cool weather we experienced throughout the growing season initially caused coulure at flowering. Mildew quickly appeared in the wake of these successive showers, leading us to treat the vines repeatedly – as many as 17 times, which was insane! But that is the only sustainable approach in biodynamic viticulture to this invasive fungus, which limits yields.

Of course, the dreary weather and lack of sunshine slowed the grape maturation process, which was slowly but surely gaining 0.1 degrees daily over the last few days. Grapevines show great disparities, with some, such as in Pommard and the lower parts of Gevrey-Chambertin, rather healthy and abundant, and others, particularly the plants, more affected. Shoots are quite uneven within a single parcel, with no real logical explanation.

Ultimately, it was the 12 potential degrees that got the ball rolling, and although we already know that volumes will be down, the meticulous sorting process will be crucial to achieving a good concentration, so we’re confident!