It's funny, I've been writing this blog for over two years now, telling you about the things that are going on here in southern France, how the vineyards are doing, how the wine is tasting and who's buying it. Then suddenly I've let more than two weeks slip by without writing a post. At first I felt a great pressure, like I was letting everyone down, then it gets worse, then after more than a week you start to wonder: "What if I just stopped? Would anyone notice? Would anyone wonder what happened?" It's an odd feeling, you know there are people out there reading the blog because they send you emails and post comments, but what if I just disappeared. Blogging can sometimes be surreal.
Anyway, like I said, these past two weeks have just slipped by. First I was in London visiting my sister, not really wine related, though we did have a great meal at The Pot Kiln, an excellent English country pub owned by British chef/TV personality Mike Robinson. Since then we've had lots of guests, family and friends, and we've been doing lots of pruning.
The weather here has been unseasonably
warm, which is wonderful when you're out there pruning, but worrysome for the fruit trees and the vines. In fact, we never really had a winter, the temperatures only dropped below zero once or twice, so it should make for an interesing growing season. We are still way behind in annual rain-fall so we're hoping for some rainy days in the next two months to make up for it. Meanwhile, we're out there pruning with family and friends, again feeling lucky that we have so many people willing to be a farmer for a day or two. Here are Brian and Jennifer (Matt's brother and sister-in-law) and below is David Buchanan, Matt's former boss! Imagine that.
The 2006 is coming along quite nicely. We've been tasting it with various people including Martin Kössler and Dunja Ulbricht, our importers in Germany. I have to tell you, it's really good. A bit less concentrated and tannic than 2005, more silky and rich in the mouth. It has the same "La Gramière" fruit with good acidity and a touch of "je ne sais quoi" that I think makes it delicious. I think it will be a bit hit, well, I hope so!
I'm glad that some of you are still out there, I'll do my best to keep the posts coming and not to take so much time off! (from writing this blog anyway).
Nice to know you're "back again" - I was missing your regular posts! I could have written the same article from Lisson as you - just without the visit to London and the troupes of gentle helpers - no wonder, we must have nearly the same climat this year. So the pruning goes on and sometimes I have the feeling, that the wines start already to "weep"...
Posted by: Iris | March 05, 2007 at 02:54 PM
The yawning silence of the blog can be disorienting. Not that I would nag about a lack of posting, I just guessed that you were busy pruning (which you were).
I enjoy your blog as a first time insight into the annual cycle of farming an eco-sensitive vineyard.
Keep the faith.
Posted by: Bill James | March 05, 2007 at 05:09 PM
Nice post, Amy. The pictures are great, and shows that it might be a slow(er) time, when blogging takes a low priority. Glad it was just a break - I enjoy your writing.
Posted by: Mike Duffy | March 05, 2007 at 09:05 PM
I was also missing your regular posts - and had already resolved to write to you on March 15 - which would have been a month. I also really enjoy your writing - and the pictures from the region that I love so much. BTW: your wine is fantastic. Tasted it at Terroirs. Yumm. Greetings from Germany!
Posted by: Doris | March 06, 2007 at 11:10 AM
How come my post right now with my greetings from Germany is attributed to Mike Duffy? Very strange - then again, this is my first comment to a blog, so I will just wave a friendly hello to Mike Duffy!
Posted by: Doris | March 06, 2007 at 11:12 AM
It's been cold and snowy in Colorado. Wish we could send you some. Can't wait to taste the 2006!
Posted by: Kyle | March 06, 2007 at 02:26 PM