Rain interrupts Bordeaux harvest again

The 2006 grape harvest in Bordeaux was interrupted by heavy rain yet again at the end of last week.
 
The picking of the Merlots had already been halted once, as reported here. Cabernets have reasonable sugar levels and depth of colour but there are doubts that they have reached full flavour ripeness. And temperatures are relatively modest.There is also cause for concern over the health of the grapes as the damp soils promote the spread of rot. Those sorting tables and crews, hardly needed in 2005, will be in great demand for the 2006 vintage.
 
There will...