HARVEST 2023 : “At last, a vintage that is neither early nor late!”

Discover our video ” At the heart of the harvest”

A word from Philippe Bardet, CEO of Maison Jean Loron : “Right from the flowering in June, we predicted that the harvest would start on September 4. The summer was therefore “average”… but this average hides very intense climatic episodes, with cool, wet periods contrasting with scorching heatwaves. The unpredictable weather left its mark on the grapes. Two major hail storms hit our region on July 11 and August 13, causing damage mainly in Morgon and Beaujolais Villages.

Today, our grapes are healthy, and we haven’t given disease a chance, thanks to our vigilance and hard work in the vineyard. From north to south, our vineyards have everything it takes to produce a great 2023 vintage… As I bite into the grapes, I’m pleasantly surprised by their pronounced fruitiness and melt-in-your-mouth fleshiness!

Highlight of 2023: the heatwave came extremely late this year, at the end of August, when the grapes had already ripened. The vines undoubtedly coped better, as their foliage remained green and highly functional. In recent years, we’ve experienced heatwaves earlier in July, which tended to completely block the photosynthesis mechanism.

We’re starting the harvest* with afternoon temperatures above 30°C. The grapes underwent concentration, and the vineyard yield decreased daily. But as the load of grapes was rather generous, we’re still hoping for a harvest in line with the average of the last five years. In the first days of September, a joyful effervescence begins, bringing together grape-pickers from all over the world. Rendezvous in a few weeks’ time for the tasting of the first juices and the first impressions of a vintage that looks very promising.”