Castillon

"If it rains on St. Medard's day (8th June) it will rain for 40 days - unless St Barnabé cuts the ground from beneath his feet!"

That's the kind of weather forecasting you get here in Castillon.

It did rain on the 8th AND a week later on St Barnabé's day. So... Looks ominous!

The Dordogne is huge, rolling massively past, fast, with plenty debris. Chocolate colour - means the Vezere tributary is flooding in its own dark way too.

This would be the time to launch your Gabare-load of wine in the old days. Your motorless barge'd be in Bordeaux next day! If you survived the rapids. Today we use trucks!

Everyone is out spraying like mad. 30 degree heat and dampness threatens disaster. Rot! Botrytis! In the old days you'd likely lose a lot of your crop. These days for those who react fast and well - which is all but the dimmest - it's no big problem. Just a lot of work.

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