2008 - Cold and T’Rain in Touraine

2007 to 2008
From one year to another… Mother Nature’s tantrums.

Everything started normally with a cold winter, which lasted up to the end of February. After that March and April were far from brillant and April frosts destroyed numerous buds, especially in the western Loire Valley (Muscadet).

In Touraine, the vines started their vegetative cycle relatively late (at the end of April) and grew slowly at the mercy of the weather, which alternated between beautiful and downright miserable days. Flowering was difficult, and certain varieties, like Sauvignon Blanc, were badly hurt by these conditions with losses ranging between 30 to 40% of the crop.

July was relatively good, but August brought back bad memories of the 2007 vintage, although in lesser measure as it turned out. We were worried, however, to notice the appearance of some small nests of rot, which threatened to spread to the rest of the vineyard . During those crucial moments it is difficult to describe the mindset of the powerless vinegrower when confronted by the capricious face of nature… A year’s work is in her hands, and, depending on whether we have clouds or sun, the grapes may turn out ordinary, at worst ruined, or indeed of a wonderful quality.

And then our spirits were lifted when, low and behold, from 8th September marvellous weather arrived, sunny and with a purifying northern wind, which would last until the end of the harvest. The harvests started on 17th September and were completed on 4th October, without a single drop of rain!

A good concentration of juice was achieved in the berries; take the Gamay, for example, which became very dark and rich in sugar. The crop was exceptional, and the only the only dark side to this vintage was the size of the crop, especially for the Sauvignon Blanc.

The reds are spectacular, with a robe as dark as the 2005; the body and aromas are incredible, with superb concentration.
As everything went along nicely we decided to vinify some of our “Premier Vendange”, a completely natural wine, which will certainly be gorgeous once again. All our special cuvees should be dreamlike, such as the Cepages Oublies, Vinifera Gamay and Chenin. Unfortunately the quantities of Vinifera Sauvignon and Cot are very tiny (due to the bad weather at the bloom) and have produced, like the Provignage, only 20 hectolitres per hectare.

Once again the year has been difficult and until the very end we were expecting the very worst. Then the weather which we needed so badly, like a miracle, arrived right on cue…

Jean-Sebastien & Henry Marionnet