The 2003 season gave us extremely low crops, and we were almost
50% down on a normal year. The low crops were a product of loss
through frost, poor set from bad weather at flowering and early
season conditions in general.
However, the summer was dry, and autumn stretched out well, allowing
us to pick each variety at its best.
As far as allocation goes, small crops may not be ideal, but we
were rewarded with fantastic fruit…some of the best yet..
particularly the Pinot Noir!!
2002 VINTAGE
After a somewhat mild winter (less frost fighting was a bonus for
us - but also less snow on the skifields…) bud burst went
well and the shoots were gaining some healthy length as Claire left
to work another harvest in Burgundy. The early part of the season
was warm and dry with November and December bringing patches of
unsettled weather.
Earlier flowering varieties and clones had a variable set, while
later ones tended to catch the settled weather with less wind and
moisture, and produced a better set.
December, January and early February produced the bulk of rainfall
and the vine health and canopy flourished. The management of canopy
and crop was very important to keep the vineyard in balance and
the team here did a marvellous job.
An extended dry finish to the season meant that we achieved the
ripeness we wanted. This was a year when our site on the Martinborough
Terrace was especially beneficial. The free draining soils so valuable
after the abundance of early season rain.
2001 VINTAGE
The growing season was very dry and this continued right through
harvest allowing an extended time for ripening on the vines and
the possibility to pick everything without any pressure from the
weather
The dry season was accompanied by a slightly cooler summer than
normal and the fruit responded well with the last stages of ripening
being desirably slow for wonderful flavour development.
We had a great harvest team with our local crew being complemented
by representatives from Central Otago and also France. A couple
of steps for extra care had been added in the winery for the Pinot
Noir; - gentler fruit handling systems and extra fruit sorting for
highest quality.
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