“This is extremely early as we break the 2020 record where we started on August 27” summarizes René Maury, the President of the Coteaux de la Vézère cellar. Five days is a lot compared to a year that had already been early.
How to explain it? “Until August 15, there was a water blockage in the vines, the maturity was very bad, the drought was rife“explains René Maury, “and the rain of August 15 obviously accelerated” the process, “as in many vineyards“he continues.
Read also: Drought in Limousin: on the slopes of the Vézère the vines are starting to wither
As for the consequences of this summer’s drought on the grapes, it’s quite simple. “July, our vines tolerated it fairly well, the soil did not dry out much. August, on the other hand, was quite terrible, with high temperatures and very hot winds. some vines, some feet, began to wiltwhich means that in terms of quantity, we will most certainly have lower yields” he predicted.
Year 2022, the “vintage of the century”?
To what extent? Difficult to assess; perhaps in the same proportions as those of last year but for diametrically opposed reasons: in 2021, the rains continue from the summer had caused a proliferation of mildewwhich had reduced the harvest by about 20 to 30%.
Finally, in terms of quality, René Maury who “heard here or there that given the drought, it will be the vintage of the century“, wants to be more measured. “It will be a quality wine, but will all the white, red and rosé varieties have withstood the heat well, I don’t know.” he concludes.