Note: A report on the Bordeaux 2010 harvest so far:
Springtime, mainly dry and cool, finished with a period of some heavy rainfall in mid-June. Summer began in perfect harmony with the year’s calendar. Temperatures and hours of sunshine were extremely generous as of 21st June.
These conditions continued right up until the month of July when records of hours of sunshine were beaten (+38 hours compared with the average of the past thirty years). The month of August, fine and hot, especially during the last ten days, encouraged a good start to ripening.This fine weather enabled the vine to make up for lost time observed during the flowering period.
If they continue, these excellent summer weather conditions promise a superb vintage. However, this early lack of water in some areas may cause the ripening process to come to a halt, so some light rainfall would be welcome.
White grapes
Marvellously warm, sunny days in August encouraged ripening and cool night-time temperatures helped to protect the fruit and aromas.
These grapes show excellent aromatic potential. Harvests of white grapes will begin on 6th September in the earliest areas for the Sauvignon variety.
Red grapes
At present, the difference in temperature between day and night is extremely favourable for the quality and synthesis of anthocyanins and aromas. The berries’ colour is becoming richer, with contents of total anthocyanins already high and sugar contents have increased significantly. Acidity levels are still very high. The grapes are currently in the process of ripening. If these weather conditions continue during the late summer, early autumn season, harvests of red grapes should begin at the end of September/beginning of October for Merlot grapes, the earliest variety.
Comment here