Champagne harvest 2015 – Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy in Cumières

  

 Harvest has begun in Champagne and I thought that this year I could trial live blogging. Small articles on the vigneron I visit and their opinion on this years crop posted via the WordPress App for iPhone. I will also add regular portraits of harvesters to try and bring the harvest even closer to wherever you are.

As often is the case we begin in Cumières, and this year with Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy from Champagne René Geoffroy. Jean-Baptiste started harvest on Wednesday; he asked a derogation to pick some old vine Chardonnay with hen and chicken. The Chardonnay was ripe (11,2) and the acidity levels were starting to plunge.  The yield for the Chardonnay were very low, 7500kg per hectare. 

 

Today he started with old Meunier from the 36 ares plot Les Tiersaudes. Jean-Baptiste had been worried about potential rot development in the parcel, but in the end the grapes came in very healthy and beautiful at about 10,8 degrees alcohol.

  Since starting the picking team is small – 12 people paid by the hour – and Jean-Baptiste does one 4000 kg press a day. However, he will start with a bigger team, working by the kilo – but with people sorting afterwards – from Monday onward.

At the moment he is very happy about the harvest quality, and is convinced that if the weather holds out as predicted, 2015 will be a great year. 

He has for now specified a few vines for red wine which will be picked at the end of next week. The rosé de saignée and the Blanc de Rose will probably be made the middle of next week.