February 2, 2022 | Michael Hallek
The Early Bird
While jogging in the early morning, in the twilight and dense fog with a visibility of no more than 30 to 50 meters, I already saw Igor Leclere at work in the vineyard. Initially almost invisible in the thick, gray mist, I eventually saw him working with the tractor and a flail mower, mowing between the rows of vines and shredding the grass. He mowed one of the three rows to prepare the soil for spring. Usually, we leave one of the three rows covered with grass so that the tractor can drive through when it rains and the ground becomes muddy.
Gentle Soil Tillage
The next day, taking advantage of the favorable weather conditions, which are unusually warm this year, the other rows of the same vineyard were cultivated with an Actisol® implement, equipped with a plow and a harrow. This advanced device features a straight tines that allows for complete soil cultivation according to the principles of sustainable and ecological agriculture. In a single pass, it performs mechanical weeding, subsoiling, loosening, and seedbed preparation. The gentle use of this implement helps activate the soil by promoting the infiltration of rainwater, stimulating root growth, and simultaneously preserving organic matter on the surface.
Bending the Vines
After pruning is completed (see previous blog), the branches must be bent and attached to the wire. For this, Igor Leclere uses an effective, manual tying machine with a biodegradable tying wire. This step ensures that the growth of this year's grape clusters is guided along the wire at an optimal height.
First Bloom
The unusually high temperatures of around 18–20 °C in early March triggered the first bloom in our garden. The ornamental quince (Chaenomeles) had the honor this year. As harbingers of the approaching spring, the flowers not only add color to the garden but also provide the first food source for bumblebees, which have now begun to fly.
Publication of the bottle tasting by Antonio Galloni (Vinous) in December 2020
A few days ago, we finally received very positive news. Antonio Galloni published the results of his bottle tasting of the 2020 vintage. He writes: "The 2020 Le Pin Beausoleil is simply brilliant, exactly as it was en primeur. Silky, aromatic, and refined – Le Pin Beausoleil is pure class. In the glass, notes of crushed flowers, mint, red cherry, red plum, mocha, and espresso unfold. Le Pin Beausoleil remains one of the most underrated wines in all of Bordeaux." Unfortunately, our 2020 vintage had just sold out. We would have loved to have more in stock…