Vintage Report

2010 Vintage

2010 vintage is chugging along quite nicely so far, though we started a week or so earlier, with some of the whites. Then the weather eased off and the ripening process slowed down, which means that we ought to have a lot of differrent fruit flavours in the 2010 whites.

Its also made everything a lot easier logistically, as we were able to really concentrate and focus on each batch of wine, as the next would be picked a couple of days later!

After the hot weekend (16 & 17 Jan), everything has ripened up a bit quicker than we expected! Derek tested the fruit on Monday (18 Jan) and let us all know that 'its starting'... so the first pick was today (Thursday 21 Jan), we're picking the Chardonnay fruit for the Sparkling Wine, and its got great flavour!

First crush of the 2010 vintage tomorrow, Friday 22 Jan, easily a week earlier than last year.

This bodes well for the 2010 vintage, we tested the Verdelho, which we'll pick on Sunday or Monday and it tastes fantastic.

Wine is really just fermented grape juice, so as the juice is full of flavour it suggests that the wine will too!

The red grapes were picked during and after another hot week. though the vines do struggle with the heat, our main concern is how the fruit tastes, the red fruit has more intense flavours, great colour and as I type is fermenting away.

I'll keep you posted....

2009 Vintage

I thought 2009 would be a great year for the Swan Valley and those that know hailed 2009 as one of WA's finest.

We, in the Swan Valley, in common with the rest of the state had quite mild growing conditions, the heat didn't hit us until post Christmas, and then it was humid heat, which is better for the vines that dry heat (but harder for us West Australians to cope with, as people). "Reds were sensational and the whites not far behind" John Griffiths: President of WA Wine Industry

Also winter 2008 was nice and wet, this coupled with the river breaking its banks, and flowing through the vineyard for a couple of weeks, meant that we started with properly drenched soil... we haven't had that for a few years!

We picked for the Sparkling Chardonnay base on Tuesday 27 Jan, the Verdelho was picked Tuesday 3rd and Thursday 5th February. The fruit to go into the Unwooded Chardonnay was picked on Tuesday 10th and Thursday 12th February.

The red grapes ripened up steadily and were picked during March. The juice showed great colour and rich, full fruit flavours, it looks as though 2009 might be the year for Swan Valley Reds, even better than 2008!

2008 Vintage

We've just pressed the last of the 2008 fruit today (24 March) so Derek & Peter are celebrating!

The first pick was the chardonnay for the Sparkling on 23rd January, so it feels like its been a long vintage this year.

It was warm, hence the Sparkling fruit being picked about 2 weeks early, the Chardonnay and especially the Verdelho are looking great and we hope to have them bottled mid May.

The Shiraz has great depth of colour and rich fruit, so we ought to be able to make a worthy successor to our previous Trophy Winning efforts. The Cabernet Sauvignon is a little lighter than in previous years.

2007 Vintage

Drought conditions and high temperatures have reduced the grape yields, however the fruit ripened about three weeks early, catching us, not quite on the hop but it was a surprise! Overall the wines look as though they'll be more powerful, full-bodied and longer living than normal.

The whites are softer but vibrant and bursting with strong varietal aromas and flavours.

The reds will stand out in 2007; they are very deep in colour, with bold flavours and great depth.

The only issue will be having enough of everything, as yields were down by 40%, but what there is, is very good indeed.