We have had beautiful, dry, sunny weather since mid-June and, after three rather demanding vintages, are delighted with the very low level of fungal disease. In fact, the last real rainy spell goes back to the 15^th and 16^th of June, after the Merlot had finished flowering.

Precipitation since the 1^st of April has been particularly low, with a total of just 147 mm as of the 5^th of August. This is much less than in previous years (for example, the figure was 267 mm by the same date in 2009). As things now stand, rainfall is equivalent to that for the 2005 vintage.
This lack of rain has obviously meant a reduced water supply to the vines. The effects are starting to show, with a positive influence on quality and the synthesis of polyphenols. This situation has also led us to change our vineyard practices, going on the assumption that "ploughing once is better than watering twice" (an old saying is all the more appropriate since it is strictly forbidden to irrigate the vines!).

Colour change, or véraison, started at Palmer on the 21^st of July. This got off to a relatively slow start, but has since speeded up, and peak véraison took place on the 5^th of August for Merlot. However, our Cabernet Sauvignon grapes will probably only reach this stage during the week of August 9^th. 

After excellent weather in early June, a week of cold and rain in the middle of the month interfered with the end of flowering and the beginning of fruit set. Incomplete fertilisation in some Merlot vines led to millerandage, although it is difficult at this time to evaluate the consequences on the future crop. While coulure (or shot berries, due to the absence of fertilisation) reduces the number of grapes per bunch, millerandage (tiny, aborted berries) necessitates careful sorting at harvest time.

The fairly cool temperatures for the season (less than 11°C) during this rainy period nevertheless protected the vines from mildew. Manifestations of fungal disease were quite low.

The weather has once again been beautiful for the past two weeks and the grapes are developing well, as illustrated by these photos of the same bunch of Cabernet Sauvignon taken over 6 days in a plot called "La Pièce du Chai".



A second round of tying up is coming to an end and, helped by 50 seasonal workers, our vineyard workers are continuing to remove side shoots, which they started doing in mid-June.

In the cellar, we are preparing to bottle 2008 Alter Ego and 2008 Château Palmer next week.

There is a tradition at Palmer that our savoir-faire and experience be shared with students from a wide variety of nationalities.

Noé PIERRON, a student in BTS at the CFPPA in Blanquefort, has been an intern here since early October.  He is in charge of the important task of following vinifications for the 2009 vintage.  We got to know him earlier this summer during his viticulture internship when he showed our vineyard boss just how motivated and serious he is!
Originally from Vannes, Brittany, he worked for many years in the business. It is for the love of wine and soil that he decided to change professions.  And to do so he chose to come to Bordeaux and Chateau Palmer, which is for him, one of the jewels of the Medoc!



 

Gaetano D'AFFLITTO is studying oenology at the University of Florence in Italy. As the son of a wine producer, his internship at Chateau Palmer will last for two months.  Cheerful and motivated, he's helping with pumping-over, alongside the permanent employees at the chateau, as is his compatriot Benedetta.  





Benedetta MUSSI is a young Italian that is also studying oenology, at the University of Pisa.  Benedetta immediately charmed us with her determination and her experience.  On the pumping-over team, she's distinguished herself by her savoir-faire and her swiftness.

We had barely begun yesterday, and today we're already picking the last clusters! 6% of Palmer's vineyard is planted with petit verdot. 

This year, petit verdot grapes have proven difficult to separate from their stems.  The team in the winery stayed late last night to carefully complete their difficult task.