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.

Flowering of the vine.

The flowering of the vine is close to be over on our parcels of Chardonnay. Unfortunately, and despite all the informatic possibilities, we will not be abble to take offer you the delicate smell that spreads in the vine routes. On the other hand, we can help you to understand the phenomenon.

The flowers are 5 stamens and a pistil and their flowering take place in 3 times.

-The fall of the flower cap. It's a natural shield that covers the flower before flowering to protect them. It will be ejected by the pening of the stamens.

Some caps are still in place.

- The pollination. The bags of pollen will open and the grains will fly with the wind to fertilize other flowers...Unfortunately with this wet weather, the risk of lost of pollination is real.

-Fertilization. The grain of pollen will stick at the top of the flower and fertilize it.

Mildiou ! Mildew !

The blot of oil is the first sign

What an hawfull weather for our mood and for our vines.

We are mid-June and the anticyclone did not appear. It's raining every day for several weeks and the weather is heavy, hot and humide. Nothing like those conditions to help the spread of fungal diseases such as mildew.

This fungus grows on the leaves and then will proliferate to the other leaves and win branches and then the grappes to destroy..

The fungus is install in the leaf.

For now, development is content and only a few vines from some plots are affected. But, we need to take specific care and be very vigilant to not see appear the oil stains on the leaves, sign of contamination by the fungus. .

The grappe is contaminated.

Berrys are "frost"

The fruits will die.

Some grappes have been affected. They turn black by the tail bend down and covers of something like frost or mold. At this stage the bloom will never happen and the grappe will die.

Blanc de Noir or Blanc de Blanc.

This spring is strange. Weather change every days from the best to the worst. This monday morning was grey, dull and cloudy. Hopefully, the visit of our English friends brings us a touch of color and happiness to help us to beggin this week in better conditions. Thanks you .