For Ludivine Griveau, 2020 is a promising, very early vintage full of compromises, with a special meaning as a public hospital winemaker, in the context of the Coronavirus crisis.
Ludivine Griveau : enthusiastic about the very early 2020 vintage
This interview took place on the 30th of August 2020, the last day of the harvest at the Hospices de Beaune estate. Beautiful grapes of Saint-Romain, one of the 50 wines from the estate were even being pressed as we spoke! Ludivine Griveau is confident about the 2020 vintage. She’s even enthusiast about the white wines, and still cautions about the reds. This is normal as all pinot noir wines were still fermenting in the tanks behind us when we did this interview.
Key moments of the 2020 vintage at the Hospices de Beaune estate: wet winter, warm spring and hot summer, earliest harvest ever
Winter 2020 was rainier than the average, providing useful water reserves once again. Spring was warm and dry, as if already setting the tone for the whole year. Flowering went well, in mild weather and with almost no rain. However Ludivine mentions some heterogeneity in this flowering process. This will create a variation in the maturation levels for the whole vegetative cycle up until harvest.
Summer was very dry and hot, especially early August before cooling fown in the last 2 weeks before harvest. One of the specificities of 2020 was the wind, which blew all year long and a new component to deal with.
At the end of the cycle, everything went faster, and Ludivine says she had to find the right balance, find the good compromise between maturity and yield. Important decisions to take day after day.
Harvest 2020 at the Hospices de Beaune estate are the earliest ever: starting on the 18th of August to end on the 29th. For the first time, all plots from the Domaine were harvested in August!
2020 : a special vintage because of the COVID virus. The Domaine team supported the Hospital team as much as possible
Ludivine Griveau explains how she saw all medical and support teams from the Hospital mobilise their energy during the virus crisis. This gave her the energy to also “move along” and support this movement, in her own playing field, in the vineyards, to craft the best wine possible. The objective: to craft the greatest wines possible for the upcoming 160th Hospices de Beaune auction, to raise as much money as possible.
No wonder this auction will be special and that our maison Albert Bichot will once again support the Hospices.
Hospices de Beaune 2020 auction (15th November) – register now!
The 160th Hospices de Beaune estate auction will take place as usual on the 15th of November. You can already register on our website www.hospices-beaune.com to take part to this outstanding charity wine auction. Number 1 buyer Albert Bichot will be pleased to help you buy from 1 bottle to 1 barrel those outstanding “great wines for a great cause”.
