Newsletter June 2000
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Newsletter June 2000
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Half-yearly newsletter from the Vignobles Jerome Quiot, June 2000, N° 7. Leading article. Dear readers, This is the 7th newsletter from the Vignobles Jerome Quiot. We are concentrating particularly in the issue on the efforts we are making to ensure a way of working, which fulfils our philosophy and our motto: "Quality". A very strict method of working allows us to have some vine plants protected from all illness and especially downy mildew, which is very significant in our region. Therefore we will talk about the HACCP, of the refitting of the cellar at Puyloubier in Cotes de Provence, of the new wines launched this month… without forgetting the current situation in the vineyard and the growth of the vines. Happy reading!
Contents. Situation in the Vineyard 3 months before the harvest After a particularly dry winter, with little rain before March, in Châteauneuf-du-Pape the vine plants reached budburst some days in advance. Then, the situation changed and some very strong precipitation fell in April, May and June bringing enough water to prevent any drought during the summer. A lot of water in the soil and good warmth have helped the vine plants to grow quickly. An important growth is developing now. The advanced state has continued and even been accentuated. The flowering of the Grenache in Châteauneuf-du-Pape took place in May, which is rare. It was the same for the Syrah and even some of the Mourvèdre bloomed at the same time. The older affirm that they have never seen this so early. The Cotes du Ventoux and Cotes de Provence are also well advanced. If the weather remains unchanged, it is not out of the question that the harvest will start in the first days of September or even late August. On the other hand, the rain has not allowed us to have tidied up the vines as we would have wished. We have stopped weeding since many years and the tractors know some difficulties to make their way through the vines. This grass which consumes the spare water in the soil is very beneficial. Within a few days all will be clean with the exception of certain patches of land which we have put under grass permanently in order to increase the stuggle for the vines, to increase color and concentration.
For many years, significant investments have been made at Domaine Houchart in Cotes de Provence : renewal of parcels of vines, change the planted grape varieties for the better, trellising on wires the vine plants, increase of the power of the cooler during the vinification, bladder presses… etc. This year, we have destroyed the concrete tanks, which were not used any more. Instead, we will install stainless steel tanks for vinification of rose wines and the floor will be refurbished with epoxy resin. Certain concrete cuves will also be renovated and internally lines with resin. At the same time we will totally renew the electrical wiring and reorganize the whole building. We have invested 500.000 FRF in this domain.
The regulations about quality of ingredients have recently changed in France through the application to French law of an EU directive of 1993. Viti-vinicultural procedures are directly affected by these measures. The producer must bear the burden of proving that there is total control over the quality of his products. Vignobles Jerome Quiot have put in place, through the intervention of the Syndicate of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, a program which will heighten the personnel's awareness of quality/ hygiene issues( hygiene procedures will be applied right through the production process). More ever, a precise analysis has been done of potential risks to the health of consumers. The HACCP method (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) permits the identification of the various additives, which can enter the product. Then, we have established a control plan for these various additives (inventory of the different analysis carried out throughout the production process). We have also formalized the precise procedural stages of the bottling line in order to avoid all risk of contamination (broken glass). We therefore have at our disposal today a complete guide affirming the maximum hygiene and quality of our products and can thus guarantee that there is no danger of contamination. The French department, which controls these regulations, is very strict at this level: transcription of procedures, regular registering of control methods). It is for this reason that the "HACCP guide" has been created. However, Vignobles Jerome Quiot some years ago took some step to prepare an inventory of possible risks and to put in place all the required controls. Of course, if you want, we can send this guide to you.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Cuvée Exceptionnelle 1998. You may have heard about this wine, and perhaps you have tasted it. It is now
available. We are talking, of course, about the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee
Exceptionnelle 1998. Like other wines from Domaine du Vieux Lazaret, this wine is concentrated and powerful, but also shows an attractive suppleness. It is a fine wine which will find its place in the best cellars.
Cotes du Rhone Villages, Cairanne 1999 The new negociant company of Jerome Quiot –Jerome Quiot Sélection- has
launched this month its Cotes du Rhone Villages Cairanne 1999. It is the first
wines in a range of Rhone wines that we wish to develop without delay. For further information, please contact Isabelle Ogier.
... Marie-Pascale Roques If you have not already met Marie-Pascale, you will certainly do so on your
next visit to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. We are very pleased to greet her in our team. ... Muriel Ghibaudo At the time of the last news letter, you were learnt that another person was
to be taken at Vignobles Jerome Quiot as management assistant. We welcome her and wish she will be successful.
Since November 1999, the following wines from our domain have been awarded medals: Gold medal Brussels 2000 Châteauneuf-du-Pape white
1999
We have been working on the transition to the single currency for some time now. Our wish is to carry out this transition in stages, in order not to change quickly what we are used to do. You must know that we have established the conversion to Euros on all our invoices. Now, we will send our price list for the next 6 months to our export customers. We will continue to send our French customers the price list in Francs. Our accounting software and commercial team are ready to handle your requirements either in Francs or in Euros, whichever you prefer. Contact our commercial team, which ask all your questions. |