2022!!! Finally a vintage that rewards our efforts! But also a year that re-assured us that we can continue making wine in this septentrional region we love so much. It's also a year that proves that higher yields (always balanced, artisinal sense) can be synonymous with quality when you listen to Nature.
Yet again, the 2022 vintage almost turned to catastrophe due to frost in Spring. It was certainly not as intense as the last few years but still very present! It was finally time to put our new style of “Malbrot” pruning to the test, a technique where you prune in two times, permitting a much later pruning of the canes destined to bear fruit. This year, it was a resounding success! It will of course take many years of experimentation and follow-through to really conclude its worth, but this go-round gives us a lot of hope.
Now past the point where frost could hurt us, the vines grew at a leisurely pace, with favorable weather for flowering. Some rains kept us on our toes, and we maintained a very precise treatment regiment in order to spray the least amount of copper possible while maintaining optimal foliage. In June, we did have a little episode of odium in a small sector in the heart of Jasnières, but again we nipped this in the bud with a well calculated treatment.
We were also meticulous and vigilant with the amount of grass in the vines and made sure to properly aerate the soils from fall 2021 to Spring 2022, permitting us to apprehend drought issues in a very serene manner. The grapes were beginning to look good, and we were able to follow them through all the way to harvest.
We began picking on the earliest date in the estate’s history, September 6th. As the harvest went on, some intermittent rain helped plump up the grapes and promoted optimal maturation throughout the vineyard. The quality of the grapes, both in red and white, is magnificent. A slow and precise pressing for the whites and a meticulous maceration for the reds gave us nice juices that are fermenting tranquilly in wood.
This was also the most intense harvest of the estate’s history, spanning four entire weeks with a team of 30 formidable pickers. We really have to show them respect because everyone was a rookie (though highly motivated) and together they harvested the most grapes we’ve ever taken in.
In the cellar, my wife Laure-Anne was there to reception the team and to manage the juices, assisted by Jérôme who’s just getting started in the world of wine and has replaced our past employee, as well as Héloïse who came to intern and learn about vinification. Of course, my father and Michel (our two favorite retirees) were never too far to give some advice or lend a helping hand.
This generous harvest also permitted us to do pick some late-harvest Chenin and Pineau d’Aunis to make our liquoreux cuvées "Elixir de Tuf" and "Aurore d’Automne". Now we let the wines ferment at their own rhythm, paying close attention to make sure they are in the best conditions.
We are very excited to share all of these with you!
Clément & Laure-Anne, Eric & Christine Nicolas
