maturation septentrionale

06:08 Dec 6, 2008 

Ok guys, you obviously are all seasoned winemakers and I won't pursue it any further, but just remember that if you associate "une belle concentration de sucre et de saveurs" with a "typical northern ripening" or whatever northernly when commenting what was poured in your glass in any wine tasting event, you'll be the butt of jokes or the clown at the party. Enjoy !

16:15 Dec 5, 2008 

Francis, it doesn't say it was exceptionally warm, it says "uneformement" warm. The northernly ripening, I believe, refers to the fact that September brings cool nights and winds, so ripening is slow and gradual, taking place in September, as opposed to August (eg Beaujelais). I don't think it can mean that ripening is taking place FURTHER north because the appellation champagne parcels are strictly marked out. They are located where they have been for decades, and have always managed to produce excellent vintages!

15:56 Dec 5, 2008 

Do you seriously think that an exceptionally warm year - and warm weather in general - could lead to a ripening "typical of the North" ? Where to you get that "typical of" in the French text ?

15:39 Dec 5, 2008 

The meaning of septentrional is clear. We know it means northern. We know also that in this context it relates to the climate. We also know that the author intends it to mean "slow and gradual" because the word is explained just afterwards: "lente et progressive".

15:26 Dec 5, 2008 

There is nothing "typical of" here. "Septentrional" means "located in the North". Nordique in French would be "typical of the North. A exceptional warm year has lead to ripening taking place FAR NORTH. That's it.

15:16 Dec 5, 2008 

Thanks Rachel - the comparative was needed.

14:16 Dec 5, 2008 

cooler climes or cooler Northern climes

12:35 Dec 5, 2008 

It looks as if "maturation très septentrionale" is the giveaway here. It covers, as asker says to Jessica, September as opposed to August and slower as against fast ripening. So 'typical' should be included somewhere to cover the "très" (as rdg and Emma say). Or else do it in England as seems more & more likely these days. But that's another story...

09:19 Dec 5, 2008 

Thanks Alain, that's exactly how I understand it. It's simply that I find it odd to say 'northern ripening' and think that it needs to be said in a more explanatory way - ripening typical of northern climes, ripening as it occurs in more northerly regions, etc. :-)

09:14 Dec 5, 2008 

I can only reiterate what I said last night. I think it is trying to make the point that 'northern' slow ripening is superior to 'southern' ripening. If you say 'méridional' in French everyone immediately thinks of the sun and "sunny climes" - but what's the opposite of that? "cool climes"?

09:02 Dec 5, 2008 

Hi everyone, first I'd like to thank everyone who has taken the time to answer. I just wanted to clarify that I realise that the champagne wine-growing region is septentrional (northern) - it's just that I find it odd to describe *ripening* as northern. Slow, gradual, yes, but northern ripening sounds odd to my ear. Perhaps it is simply an elliptical way of saying ripening as it occurs in Northern climates.