European wine producers are excited about the 2009 harvest

Mid-October is traditionally a period in which they finished the harvest in much of European wine regions and begin to appear the first concrete news about the quality of the harvest. It is true that an analysis of climatic conditions in the months leading up to harvest already indicated that one might expect great results this year, but only with the clusters in the cafeteria and the fermentation is in progress that may have known exactly.

Therefore, it is real and unabashed joy that comes from the comments and expressions of delight of the main areas of Italian and French wineries regions, Piedmont and Tuscany and Bordeaux and Burgundy respectively. In Italy, the weather remained favorable until the end and the vinification ongoing predicting fine wines. In Piedmont, already at that time nebbiolo had perfect evolution of maturation, which lasted until the end of last week, when the last grapes were being harvested. The barbera, in turn, earlier, was already in full fermentation, is expected outstanding results.

The more excited producers are the French. Paul Pontallier, technical director of Château Margaux, usually restrained, told me yesterday that in his three decades of life, and other years that followed as far as Bordeaux region is never seen similar conditions - perfect weather in July, August, September and October. I was so thrilled that he took his wife and two young children, in full sun, the day he sacredly devoted to family, and brought together to taste wines from some tanks that had just ferment. According Pontallier, the 2009 has the same time the density of 2005 and the softness and scent of 90. Remember, the Château Margaux 90 is considered a wine that borders on perfection.

The red wines of St Emilion and Pomerol this year also are leaving their producers and animated. It is possible, however, they do not reach the same level as the left margin, as a rule, a merlot, a majority there, is at a high alcoholic, exceeding 14 degrees, reaching sometimes 16 degrees. They speak, still in great wines, balanced, but that, in principle, will depend on the art of the winemaker.

In Burgundy the saga of the years ending in 9 continues - are always of high quality wines. Jacques Seysses of Domaine Dujac cult in, mocking tone told me that those who failed to make a good wine in 2009 is best to change the profession. Always very strict with himself, Christophe Roumier, to agree that the weather helped a lot, but prefers to wait until the end of fermentation to give a final opinion. The overall picture in any case, it is very optimistic.

In Portugal, more specifically in the Douro, the drought and high temperatures in July and August accelerated the production of sugar, causing some concern at the beginning of the harvest. Nevertheless they recover, and, as always happens in these cases old vines will have great participation in the quality delivered.

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