Vines in flower

At last the vines are flowering.
So far this year we’ve ‘enjoyed’ a cold winter followed by a cool, cloudy spring so the vines are off to rather slow start. Today, June 15th, we've reached mid-flowering which puts us roughly equal with recent ‘late’ vintages like 2006 and 2008. A lot can change over the next 3 months, but at the moment I’d expect to be picking in early October. Generally a late harvest is promising for quality since there is a higher probability of the cool, sunny weather which seems perfect for ripening Pinot without cooking its delicate flavours and acidity. Unfortunately a late harvest also increases the risk of rain and rot so 2010 still has all to play for.