2005 VINTAGE REPORT

A particularly cool spring throughout the country had a huge impact on this vintage. The season was later and crop levels were lower, particularly in Auckland and in certain vineyards in Marlborough. Quality, however was high, helped no doubt by the low crop, with generally low acidity, great colour (in the reds) and impressive flavour ripeness.

MARLBOROUGH

Apart from yield, it was a big year in Marlborough – Brix (sugar levels), flavour intensity and aroma were all at the top of the scale resulting in weighty and flavoursome young wines. The inclement spring affected flowering – particularly at our Cowslip Valley site leading to reduced crops and delayed growth. The weather at and around harvest was mostly fine and settled although a series of early frosts signalled the end of the season. 
The Sauvignon Blanc looks excellent – busting with tropical fruit and exuberant aroma, other stand outs are the Pinot Gris, already displaying great richness of palate and the Pinot Noir- all three of our sites producing dark and textural wines, indeed hard decisions will need to be made regarding which wines will not be part of the Winemakers Reserve blend.

HAWKE'S BAY

A late start to the season and moderate summer temperatures could have been a cause for alarm; however, thanks to the low crop levels and intensive canopy work we were able to leave the grapes out until ripeness was attained. The Irongate Chardonnay appears to be another classic and the Gewürztraminer and Viognier standouts. The cool temperatures in early autumn required a long hang time for the red varieties to achieve ripeness. At this, (early), stage the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are looking very good – hopes are high that we will be making a Patriarch in 2005.

GISBORNE

A typical vintage in Gisborne, high temperatures and dry weather in January and February were followed by more unsettled events in March - fortunately we managed to dodge the worst of these – we had just finished picking a block of Semillon when one of the more severe downpours struck. The wines are looking good – the Pinotage is the best I have seen from Gisborne and the Chardonnay display good purity of fruit.

AUCKLAND

After the cold spring we had one of our best summers, hot dry days that produced excellent fruit, but unfortunately not a great deal of fruit. The Pinotage is looking particularly good.

Overall a mixed bag of weather conditions has delivered a surprisingly good and consistent result. As I write this we are hurriedly preparing the first of the 2005 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc for bottling and we look forward to its release and hope you will enjoy it.

ADAM HAZELDINE
WINEMAKER