Another magnificent day today, somewhat warmer than yesterday as the mistral has weakened and is not so cold.

As expected, we start harvesting at Vinsobres, which is a village about thirty kilometres north of Châteauneuf. We pick a little syrah but rapidly decide to stop and wait until next week. We feel that the grapes will get even riper during the coming days. More will be said about Vinsobres as it has excellent natural conditions. Its terroir lies at the northern limit of the Southern Rhône area, and is particularly suited to the syrah grape.

In our Château de Grand Prébois vineyards we continue to pick the Grenache grapes that will contribute to the Perrin Réserve. They look very good.
In Saint Gervais, as expected, we start picking syrah grapes that will also go into the Côtes-du-Rhône Perrin Réserve.

As is the case for any of our vineyards that lie more than 5 to 10 kilometres from the Perrin et Fils winery (at Grand Prébois), we transport the grapes in refrigerated trucks to avoid them being damaged by heat.

Things are naturally quite tense and « tight » at the winery, with all these different grapes, from varying sources, coming in at the same time. What makes is worse is that some tanks which were ordered months ago for the vinification of vineyards that we have recently leased are just being delivered, in the middle of harvest! But we are very happy to get them.

There is no reason to rush at Châteauneuf. We visit each plot of Beaucastel and les Sinards daily, but we feel that the Grenache can wait as the weather is set fine. Mourvèdre and Counoise are later ripening varieties. The Syrahs are looking superb and we start to pick them, gradually, with the small team of pickers.