http://www.gavinquinney.com A subtle blend of vinegrower, wine producer, wine critic, collector and geek. Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:07:12 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en We'll start harvesting tomorrow. A parcel of sauvignon blanc, new vines which we planted in 2004 on gravel and clay soils, are tasting delicious and aromatic. Sugar levels are high at just over 13% potential alcohol and the acidity has lowered over the last few week to the optimum level. ... http://www.gavinquinney.com/2008/09/16/all-systems-go/ After a lovely July, a mixed August and a dodgy start to September, we need sunshine. And, mercifully, the forecast looks good. In 2007, September sunshine saved the harvest (as happened in 2002), and although each and every year is different, it looks like the same could be true for ... http://www.gavinquinney.com/2008/09/15/here-comes-the-sun/ We hosted a small team from Gordon Ramsay's this weekend as they took part in the Médoc marathon on saturday. 'Taking part' is an apt expression because it's more of a stage show or a carnival than a serious race. A glimpse of the 8000 competitors from all over the ... http://www.gavinquinney.com/2008/09/09/the-bordeaux-marathon/ One perk of being an accidental wine critic (for Wine & Spirit magazine) is that I get invited to taste some very good wines in lovely surroundings. This time it was a line-up of mature (or maturing) vintages of Premiers Grands Crus Classés from Saint Emilion in a private dining ... http://www.gavinquinney.com/2008/09/05/saint-emilion-on-the-left-bank-in-paris/ It's the end of the holidays and the children are back at school. Or, to be more precise, schools, as they are at four different schools this year. Three are in the local town, Créon, while Sophie goes to Carignan a few miles away. Throughout the summer, we try to ... http://www.gavinquinney.com/2008/09/03/constant-gardening/ We're taking advantage of some hot, dry weather before the harvest to rectify a problem underfoot in a parcel of young merlot vines, planted on gravel and clay soils. When we planted them a few years ago, I didn't realise that a slight incline from right to left would result in ... http://www.gavinquinney.com/2008/08/29/ground-control/ The end of August is often thought of as a quieter time in the vines, but with intermittent rain in the last fortnight, we have to be vigilant against the threat of mildew.  As I wrote here, the sprayer we bought in 2006 has proved to be a great investment ... http://www.gavinquinney.com/2008/08/27/keeping-the-vines-in-trim/ Even though friday was un jour férié, or Bank Holiday, there was work to be done in the vineyard, and on saturday too. Working on a saturday in mid-August doesn't go down well with the troops, let alone on a Bank Holiday, but the merlot grapes are changing colour from ... http://www.gavinquinney.com/2008/08/18/changing-of-the-colour-veraison/ July was a great month for sunshine in Bordeaux and very little rain - much less than in 2007 and 2006. In fact, we've enjoyed lovely weather since mid-June, right up until yesterday at the start of what looks to be a rainy week. But in this corner of south ... http://www.gavinquinney.com/2008/08/12/hail-near-st-emilion-no-luck-in-lussac/ The UK's most influential wine critic, Jancis Robinson MW, posted a great article on the 'subscribers only' section of her website with the headline 'In praise of white Bordeaux' at the beginning of August, following a tasting for British Airways. "I strongly urge you to take advantage of the revolution in ... http://www.gavinquinney.com/2008/08/07/in-praise-of-white-bordeaux/