Beginning of the vintage for 2011 “Y”
17 August 2011 Vineyard
The picking of Sauvignon Blanc grapes for 2011 “Y”, our great dry white wine, began today on the 18th of August 2011.
There were only 19 vintages of Y from 1959 to 1994 because this wine was previously made from berries unaffected by noble rot at the end of the harvest – a very unpredictable proposition, which explains the irregular production.
However, since 1996, Ygrec is made on a much more regular basis from selected plots of Sauvignon Blanc picked at the beginning of the harvest and overripe (and thus less tannic) Sémillon.
Tuesday, the 30th of August – start of the Sémillon harvest
The other thing that sets “Y” apart is the breakdown of grape varieties: 2/3 Sauvignon Blanc and 1/3 Sémillon – as opposed to the sweet wine, which contains predominantly Sémillon.
Advent of botrytis
The initial stages of botrytis have just appeared in certain plots, a sure sign that the picking of grapes for Yquem is not far off…
