Taken its time, but everything’s growing now in the warm, even the late-pruned Madeleine in the front here. The grasses (and the buttercups) are finally gaining on Asti. Lovely!

Spent the last 2 days shoot-selecting on the Kernling. That’s knocking off badly-placed, overcrowded and unfruitful shoots, to achieve, where possible, a fruit-bearing shoot every 4-6 inches along the canes. You do it when the shoots are about 6 inches long and at this stage you can snap them off lightly with your fingers. Bit of a trek up and down the rows but a nice, gentle job in the warm evenings with the birds singing. This year nearly every shoot has loads of flower buds like the one below - spoilt for choice. It’s thanks to last year’s warm September. Well-ripened canes mean flowerful buds. So despite the late start we could end up with a bumper year. Just need more of this weather.

Good fun as ever at the London International

Wine Fair last Tuesday, collecting our award

certificate for Jane’s 08 - our only International

Wine Challenge entry this year.  Good to keep up

our nearly-unbroken 18-year run. We enjoyed 2

winemaker-led tutored tastings from the Rhone,

finishing on an amazing Christmassy sweet vin de

paille. Surprised and pleased by the unexpected

chance to chat to Baron Frederic of Chateau

Paveil de Luze. His fine, rounded Bordeaux are a

regular posh-wine choice for Oatley Sunday lunches. Lots  of other producers too to swap stories with, including Darcey Fugman-Small from Woodward Canyon Winery in cool-climate Washington State who late-prunes their low-lying vines to avoid the spring frost same as we do.