The month opens on the bright note of a brilliantly blue sky, and the Pyrenees arranged along our horizon in an orderly fashion, full of alpenglow and glistening snow. The air is crisp. It is unbelievably beautiful. Monsieur L comes to the office for his pay. There is a big smile across his face. The […]
Convention dictates that we all are happy and positive and looking forward to a big, brilliant and beautiful year. But despite nagging doubts – after all, we’ve been here before, haven’t we? Just one year ago to the day? – we can’t help believing that this finally will be the vintage year we’ve all been waiting for. A […]
It’s a cliché to say the nights are drawing in like a wooly blanket, and the wind has a glacial, steely look to its eye, but there is no denying that winter is here, however you say it. We’re steaming ahead with the pruning, and all hands are on board – and what hardy hands they are […]
This is such a lovely time in such a lovely place. Gold, pure gold. Crisp, clean, clear. The temperature rises a few degrees and little puffs of mist drift up from the vines like cloud-dust. And then it drops again. Autumn is gorgeous either way. Monday 8 November We return from Ireland and bring the rain with us. […]
August is when everyone in France is rightfully on holiday. There’s not much to be done in the vineyard: the die is pretty much cast. It’s countdown time to the harvest now . So there’s a lot to do in the cellars, polishing, cleaning, scrubbing, unwrapping, setting up, revising, and checking all our harvest equipment. […]