Frost damage Muscadet
 

from Decanter e-alert
Jim Budd

The Muscadet vineyards at the western end of the Loire Valley have had their
potential 2008 harvest reduced by half following a severe frost last week.

Although reports of the damage caused by the frost on the night of 6 April
varied, initial fears that around half of the vintage had been wiped out
have now been confirmed.

Elodie Besseas, of the regional wine trade body Interloire, said vines
around Bouaye, 10km southwest of Nantes, were so badly hit, 'the loss is up
to 100%.'

'At the moment we are looking at a 50% loss overall,' Besseas, who is
technical expert for the Loire Valley vineyards from Nantes to Blois, told
decanter.com. 'There are considerable variations from sector to sector. In
June, once the flowering is over, we will be able to produce a final
estimate of the size of the 2008 Muscadet vintage.'

Producers echoed Besseas' findings.

'This is the worst frost since 1991,' Jerome Choblet of Domaine des
Herbauges, told decanter.com. 'The damage to the buds is between 60%-80%.
Because the frost occurred much earlier than in 1991, we hope that the
second-generation buds will develop well and make up a lot of the deficit.'

Muscadet has already suffered from small harvests in both 2007 and 2006.
Last year's harvest was down by 16% due to frost and mildew.

'We have no stock,' said Choblet.

Some Muscadet producers, including Guy Bossard, were particularly badly hit
by mildew in 2007, with Bossard only producing nine hectolitres per hectare.

Besseas also said that there had been some frost damage further up the
valley in Anjou, which includes the appellations of Savennieres, Coteaux du
Layon and Saumur-Champigny wines. Although the damage is expected to be much
less than that in Muscadet, it will be ten days before its extent is known.

JT

Frost damage Muscadet
 

Thanks John. Not surprised. My maples have been very badly hit by
frost and
pseudomonas this spring; just discovered another casualty this morning.
The
pear crop is quite badly effected here as well.

-E

John T wrote:
> from Decanter e-alert
> Jim Budd
>
> The Muscadet vineyards at the western end of the Loire Valley have had their
> potential 2008 harvest reduced by half following a severe frost last week.
>
> Although reports of the damage caused by the frost on the night of 6 April
> varied, initial fears that around half of the vintage had been wiped out
> have now been confirmed.
>
> Elodie Besseas, of the regional wine trade body Interloire, said vines
> around Bouaye, 10km southwest of Nantes, were so badly hit, 'the loss is up
> to 100%.'
>
> 'At the moment we are looking at a 50% loss overall,' Besseas, who is
> technical expert for the Loire Valley vineyards from Nantes to Blois, told
> decanter.com. 'There are considerable variations from sector to sector. In
> June, once the flowering is over, we will be able to produce a final
> estimate of the size of the 2008 Muscadet vintage.'
>
> Producers echoed Besseas' findings.
>
> 'This is the worst frost since 1991,' Jerome Choblet of Domaine des
> Herbauges, told decanter.com. 'The damage to the buds is between 60%-80%.
> Because the frost occurred much earlier than in 1991, we hope that the
> second-generation buds will develop well and make up a lot of the deficit.'
>
> Muscadet has already suffered from small harvests in both 2007 and 2006.
> Last year's harvest was down by 16% due to frost and mildew.
>
> 'We have no stock,' said Choblet.
>
> Some Muscadet producers, including Guy Bossard, were particularly badly hit
> by mildew in 2007, with Bossard only producing nine hectolitres per hectare.
>
> Besseas also said that there had been some frost damage further up the
> valley in Anjou, which includes the appellations of Savennieres, Coteaux du
> Layon and Saumur-Champigny wines. Although the damage is expected to be much
> less than that in Muscadet, it will be ten days before its extent is known.
>
> JT
>
>

Frost damage Muscadet
 

Hi John,

On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:26:00 +0100, "John T" >
wrote:

>Elodie Besseas, of the regional wine trade body Interloire, said vines
>around Bouaye, 10km southwest of Nantes, were so badly hit, 'the loss is up
>to 100%.'

I'll have to contact Jo Landron to see how he's got on. he's about
35km inland of there. Oh dear. He's such a nice guy. Mind you as
Elodie machin nearly said, it's really too early to tell whether
secondaries won't come to their rescue as in '61 in Bordeaux.

Like Emery, we had some frosts here too last night. Our flowering
cherry was looking slight affected this morning. Although our pear
cordons are in flower it's too early to say whether they were affected
as they're somewhat protected.


--
All the best
Fatty from Forges

Frost damage Muscadet
 

IanH wrote:

>
> I'll have to contact Jo Landron to see how he's got on. he's about
> 35km inland of there. Oh dear. He's such a nice guy. Mind you as
> Elodie machin nearly said, it's really too early to tell whether
> secondaries won't come to their rescue as in '61 in Bordeaux.

Ian, I almost wrote to relate some very bad news about Jo Landron until
I remebered that it was actually about Jo Pithon (wonder why I confused
those two names?). Yes, Landon's news would be of interest, as he's one
of 3 producers in the Nantais that I follow (along with Marc Olliver of
Dom. de Pepiere and Luneau-Papin).

Mark Lipton

--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.hostexcellence.com

Frost damage Muscadet
 

Mark Lipton > wrote in :

>
> Ian, I almost wrote to relate some very bad news about Jo Landron until
> I remebered that it was actually about Jo Pithon (wonder why I confused
> those two names?). Yes, Landon's news would be of interest, as he's one
> of 3 producers in the Nantais that I follow (along with Marc Olliver of
> Dom. de Pepiere and Luneau-Papin).
>

Mark,

I spoke to Pierre-Marie Luneau (who is a great young guy in his twenties)
and he told me that they had lost 60% of the crop), which is so sad for
small producers of wine. I really felt sad about it.

However, quality can still be good. It will only be the quantity that would
be affected.

Sad news and even more sad when they hit such great people.

Santiago

Frost damage Muscadet
 

santiago wrote:

> I spoke to Pierre-Marie Luneau (who is a great young guy in his twenties)
> and he told me that they had lost 60% of the crop), which is so sad for
> small producers of wine. I really felt sad about it.
>
> However, quality can still be good. It will only be the quantity that would
> be affected.
>

I completely agree, Santiago. What it will mean, in combination with
the falling dollar, is much higher prices in the US. Since I think that
Muscadet scratches the same itch that Chablis does for me, I'm willing
to pay up to $25 for a top Muscadet such as the L D'Or bottling. The
way things are going, though, that may not be enough in a few years :(

Mark Lipton


--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.hostexcellence.com

Frost damage Muscadet
 

Hi Mark,

On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:36:10 -0400, Mark Lipton >
wrote:

>>>Ian, I almost wrote to relate some very bad news about Jo Landron until
>I remebered that it was actually about Jo Pithon (wonder why I confused
>those two names?).
I often do. I know that Jo Pithon was having some difficulties - he
too is one of the good guys and it's a real shame if his problems have
worsened. If it's not for public consumption, could you email me.

> Yes, Landon's news would be of interest, as he's one >of 3 producers in the Nantais that I follow (along with Marc Olliver of
>Dom. de Pepiere and Luneau-Papin).

I really must phone. When I get back from the market tomorrow, I'll
try to remember. I've suggested retranslating their website for them,
as it's not that hot! But if they are looking at from 60 to 100% loss,
they will hardnly be in a position to consider extra expenditure. That
said, he's one of the rare Muscadet producers whose wines age well, so
he probably has a few more stocks than most.



--
All the best
Fatty from Forges

Frost damage Muscadet
 

IanH wrote:

> I often do. I know that Jo Pithon was having some difficulties - he
> too is one of the good guys and it's a real shame if his problems have
> worsened. If it's not for public consumption, could you email me.

Well, since I got it from a public forum, it can hardly be viewed as not
for public consumption. The long and short of it is that, a few years
ago Jo and Isabelle were forced to sell the estate to outside investors
(because of poor finances) who kept Jo on as winemaker. Now, those same
investors have fired him, so he longer will be associated with the
domaine that bears his name, again because of those poor finances. Quel
dommage.

Mark Lipton

--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.hostexcellence.com

Frost damage Muscadet
 

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the information.

On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:57:19 -0400, Mark Lipton >
wrote:

>Well, since I got it from a public forum, it can hardly be viewed as not
>for public consumption. The long and short of it is that, a few years
>ago Jo and Isabelle were forced to sell the estate to outside investors

I knew they wanted to sell, but hadn't heard they'd succeeded.

>Now, those same investors have fired him

That's really sad. Thanks again.

Btw. I did phone Lo Landron and got their answerphone, so left a
message to say I'd try them later. Which I wll be doing.

--
All the best
Fatty from Forges

Frost damage Muscadet
 

Hi again.

Back after a quick tasting trip to Cahors. 8 estates visited and a few
bottles (mainly 2005) brought back!

I promised I'd come back when I'd got some newd from Jo Landron. The
bad news is that even though they were well inland, they got hit too.
The good news is that they think - it's early days yet - that not much
more than 30% is damaged.
--
All the best
Fatty from Forges