An extraordinarily wet winter resulted in very high water tables in spring which, combined with an extended cool period, resulted in considerable canopy growth through to December. Clearly the vines were inclined to produce a good crop - bunch numbers were much higher than usual - but the coldest December on record affected flowering and resulted
in smaller bunches and the likelihood of a light crop. We escaped the effects of an unprecedented late frost in January but by the beginning of February a drought had settled in and this did not break till June. While the drought was technically the worst we have suffered, the vines adapted and carried their crops well but with reduced berry size. As a consequence, potential cropping levels were reduced even further, but the prospects for well-developed flavours, colour and concentration from this vintage were enhanced. |
