The temperatures dropped quite a bit today … down to 28 degrees … with a further drop down to around 25 degrees in the days to come. The weather seems more unstable … but not much rain in the forecast.
First expected rain on Monday, August 24th and the 25th … there is, however, a tendency to see the promised showers disappear from the forecasts before they materialise on the vineyards.
The high alcohol !!!!
No reason to beat around the bush… the alcohol levels are high, and currently it is unusual to harvest below 14% in the big appellations… and levels around 14 to 15% are normal in 2026 … and they will climb even higher if the vignerons wait too long.
They are big wines … and alcohol levels beyond 17% have been seen !!!! … and above 14% is normal and should be accepted as a part of the 2026 characteristics.
The aromatics are, however, lovely in many cuvees … this is the benefit of the small but very healthy grapes … many wines are giving a lush pleasure … in a strange way, their taste is very good even with these elevated alcohol levels.
Harvest expectations
We are talking August 19th, and dreaming about a harvest at the start of September and reasonable alcohol seems quite unrealistic.
More and more are speaking about a drop in acidity and a rise in the PH values – an indication of more unstable and heavy wines.
This is soon becoming a simple struggle of just getting the wines in the cellar before it’s really too late. So the next week is really the harvest window, unless your vineyards are made from kryptonite! – or you get a spell of this elusive and magical rain!
The phenolic ripeness is, as always, a part of the theme … and this year with a twist due to the drought. More about this in these reflections about the ripening process. The study is interesting … but I think the development in the vineyards more suggests getting to work with your picking team.
Harvest activity
Quite a lot of prominent estates are in the vineyards picking … names like Dujac, Cécile Tremblay, Rousseau, and DRC started Tuesday or Wednesday. Think it will be pedal to the metal … to avoid using the ink to print 16% on the label.
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Harvest time … Forecast
| Forecast date | Harvest Côte de Beaune | Harvest Côte de Nuits |
| May 18th | August 15th | August 22th |
| June 20th | August 15th | August 22th |
| July 5th | August 15th | August 22th |
| August 7th | August 12th | August 18th |
| August 9th | August 7th | August 9th – early start small plots |
| 2025 Harvest Final | August 17th | August 27th |
Weather – forecast
I will follow the weather in the harvest reports; start date August 12th – base level is Nuits-Saint-Georges,
Yesterday’s Harvest View
Harvest articles
- Harvest 2026 – the alcohol in the room
- Harvest 2026 – avanti … Avanti!!
- Harvest 2026 – a fair bit of rain!
- Harvest 2026 – here we go … but no rain
- Harvest 2026 – Burgundy is now in harvest mode
- Harvest 2026 – possible panic is lurking
- Harvest 2026 – Friends, free and Fee
- Harvest 2026 – preparing for harvest next week
- Harvest 2026 – preparing the start
- Harvest 2026 – the harvest unfolds
- Harvest 2026 – has started
- Harvest 2026 – less than two weeks to the start
Contact – mail me a tip or a photo
Send me an email – if you have some harvest news
- A true vin d’émotion – a Burgundy of passion
- A truly hedonistic wine – lively and enjoyable
- A vivacious wine for pure indulgance
- A potential vin d´émotion - frais et léger
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