Lace of the Writter.

It is called "The Writter" or the "Gribouri", but his real name is the Eumolpe (Bromius Obscursus). It is an insect whith a close appearance of the scarab beetle. He is dark black and mesure 5 or 6 cm long. It appear from the end of april and eat the vine leaves by cutting them into small strips with its mandibles. These cuts are looking like letters and font. It's the reason why its nickname is "the Writter". It can also bite the berries and buds.

Herbaceous growth

The sun (finaly) of these few days, coupled with the large reserves of water contained in the soil have inflatted our berries. Clusters are still green and so they also came have the benefits from photosynthesis.

despite this nice and fast évolution, nature does not catch up time lost because of the lack of sun and heat of the last 8 weeks. Harvest is announced with at least 1 week on delay from the average dates.

Tasting comments of our Blanc de Noirs.

We have just been informed that our Blanc de Noirs was rated by two great sommeliers and champagne lovers on the more and more popular webesite "Champagnifique". (www.champagnifique.be)

The comment is very nice and we achieve the score of 91/100 with a potential score of 93/100... The cuvée is one of the best.

http://www.champagnifique.be/wordpress/?cat=665

We are proud and honored  to obtain such a very good score on such a serious website.

Thank you Ed Hodson and Michiel Demarey.

From Australia...by car.

We just had the pleasure an d the honor to welcome Avril & Ray, from Australia. They are crossing the world in their pick-up truck modified in a camping car.

They arrived in South Africa to cross African continent by the West side.
Then cross Gibraltar to reach Europe.
Spain, France and Belgium to join England and spend few days for the Olympic Games.

Already 11 month passed to travel and still 13 to go back by the East side of Europe and Africa.

Bonne route.

Summer ploughing.

Heat and rain this summer do not only promote fungal diseases, herbs also love humid soil. They proliferate and grow very quickly. Such a year, it's better to avoid them to extand in the vines.

In this case, it's our good ol "Bob" who returned to action. "Bob", it's the name of the tractor built in 1979 by the "Bobard" company on which whe installed the ploughs. It's lightweight and equipped with low tread tires. It's perfect to take care ofthe soil and avoid compacting it after being aeretad and opened.

Between the front and rear wheels, a traditional system, with "V" blades opens the soil in the middle of the road of vine.

 

On the sides, a flat blade articulated and equipped with a reminder spring go under the vines and collapse when it come in contact with the cep.

 On the back, three claws open the soil again after the tractor goes..

With this system, the roots of the plants and herbs are no more in contact with the ground, and so they naturaly die..

To the summit.

We are in the French Alps, mountains of Oisans, area of "la Meije", at 3769 metres high, at the top of the pic "le Rateau" (the rake).

Boris Debaune, guide in the high mountains, will open soon this bottle of marie Amélie cuvée Blanc de Blancs vintage 2006 to celebrate the success of the climbing.

As you can see, champagne Henriet Bazin can be tasted in any situations.

Nouaison.

The flowering is over. The berries are forming, They look like garden peas and the grape is now taking is final shape.

While the nouaison, the ovary of the flower is turning in fruit after being fecundated.

A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure to welcome our japanese importers for a tasting. We have been asked to create specific cuvées et sale some of our old vintages the Vinotheque of Champagen henriet bazin. They selected the vintages 1990 to celebrate their anniversary.

Une série d'étiquettes spécialement créée pour l'occasion.

We are realy happy to send some very special cuvées. The most exceptional one is the Blanc de Blancs (100% Chadonnay) from Montagne de Reims. This cuvée contain 57 gr of sugar per liter (our brut is only 9). It's cold "Doux"

The Rosé of 1990 and the Carte-Or and Blanc de Blancs from this single harvest will also be part of the trip.

Palissage.

From the opening of the first bud, the vine always growing, elongating the branches continuously. The density of vegetation increases very quickly and it is necessary to attache the vine branches to avoid that the vine turn in a bush.

As a first step, we lift the wire around the branches to follow the growth of the vines. Those wires retained the branches of each side and keep them vertically to facilitate the way  of the tractor in the ranks and to avoid they break in too strong wind blows..

When the branches are at their maximum height, and wires have been lifted to the top, we are attaching them with staples. It's plastic clip that will come and block the two wires and avoid the vines being to wide. It also maintaining the branches to help supporting the weight of the grappes that are now starting to grow.