Dear friends,
Since last writing, we’ve harvested the grapes for our biodynamic white and rosé Château de Lardiley wines, and our tastings and oenological analyses lead us to expect a good 2022 vintage despite the challenging weather.
This week, we also harvested our Château Mamin vineyard and are pleased with the first analyses. Thanks to some rain over the last few weeks, the tannins in our Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot grapes have developed well.
In this newsletter, you can also (re)discover a study revealing superior ratings for organic and biodynamic wine, learn why our Gascon chickens are the perfect illustration of our dedication to Demeter-certified biodynamic farming and get the latest news on our fresh biodynamic herbs.
We’ll also introduce you to some of our farm workers (including one of our three kittens!) and a longstanding customer in the UK.
Many thanks for your continued support!
Vincent.
“Let food be thy medicine” – Hippocrates
Château de Lardiley: a promising harvest for our Demeter-certified biodynamic white and rosé wines
Our biodynamic wine harvest began a few weeks early this year, due to the exceptionally hot and dry weather we’ve had in the Bordeaux region. Starting with our Sauvignon Gris white on August 22, we moved on to our Merlot rosé the day after and are delighted with the grapes’ taste and first lab analyses. These suggest we’ll be producing wines that are perfectly balanced: lively in acidity and moderate in alcohol, as you can see here. Our grapes are now fermenting… More news to come!
Château Mamin: welcome rain before the Autumnal Equinox
Biodynamic wine farming closely follows the rhythms of nature, and the Autumnal Equinox (September 23 this year) is a major event when the combined forces of the sun and moon cause exceptionally high tides and often a change in weather. During the few weeks up to September 11, the “waxing” moon increased in gravitational force, accelerating the maturation of our vines. Fortunately, it rained then to enable the tannins in our red grapes (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot) to mature correctly. Our first analyses have shown satisfactory sugar content and good acidity, as you can see here.
Raise a glass to organic and biodynamic wine!
Many of you appreciate our efforts to produce wine in harmony with nature, and you’re not alone. There’s growing evidence that eco-friendly wines impress experts more than conventional wines. In particular, a UCLA/KEDGE study in 2021 found that three prestigious guides – Gault Millau, Gilbert Gaillard and Bettane Desseauve – scored French wines on average 6.2% higher when certified organic, and 11.8% higher when certified biodynamic. The same researchers also observed 4.1% higher ratings for certified organic Californian wines in a 2016 study, noting how sustainable goods bring benefits to consumers. We’ll drink to that!
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to our biodynamic farm!
There’s no better proof of our dedication to Demeter-certified biodynamic farming than our Gascon hens. Organic and free-range, they lay only about 150 eggs a year – half the output of hybrid breeds. Periodically, production stops – especially when the hens molt in hot weather or when the winter nights draw in – because we avoid forcing nature with temperature control or artificial lighting. And we keep every chick that hatches, including the cocks. Our costs (and prices) are higher, but so is the quality of animal welfare. Consumers say they can taste the difference! Find out more in this article, published earlier this year by Viti, one of France’s leading magazines for wine growers.
News from the greenhouse
In August, we planted our last round of biodynamic seedlings before winding down for the autumn and winter. We’re excited about adding lemon verbena to our range of eco-friendly, zero-waste plants and plan to deliver shrubs to our customers in the spring. Learn more about our biodynamic herbs here.
Introducing one of our faithful farm hands…
Born and raised in Morocco, Fatima came to France at the age of 14 and started work on our farm two years later, while I was still a child. Nearly five decades later, she keeps day-to-day operations running smoothly and makes sure our paperwork gets done, including certification formalities. Her favorite job? Looking after our Gascon hens!
… and our new chief mice-catchers!
Our three new kittens are still small but soon they’ll soon be promoted to chief mice catchers, responsible for protecting our animal feed (hay and grains) from mice. We’re always looking for eco-friendly ways to do things, and this time, they’re cute too! Here’s Hardy, one of the three.
Château Mamin + steak frites at Le Relais de Venise ‘l’Entrecôte’ UK
Mourad Dine has been a loyal customer of our Château Mamin organic red wine since opening Le Relais de Venise ‘l’Entrecôte’ in London in the UK 15 years ago. With two restaurants in Marylebone and London City, Le Relais de Venise has kept the same winning formula as in France, New York and Mexico City – a single menu of salad, steak and fries, accompanied by a special sauce and at a reasonable price. We’re delighted to be ambassadors of this French bistro par excellence!
Love it!
Here you can see horn silica preparation being stirred. We sprayed this biodynamic treatment on our Château Mamin Merlot vines to help the grape seeds release tannins before the harvest.