Vintage Report 2011

La Niña weather patterns, such as we had during the 2010/2011 growing season are always a cause for alarm as they bring increased rainfall to the east coast along with the threat of cyclones. Thankfully the numerous cyclones brewed up in the South Pacific failed to make contact, and good viticulture and wise picking decisions made this the best difficult vintage I can recall. In fact the wines from 2011 will have no trouble footing it with any of our releases.

Hawke’s Bay

There were no spring frosts this season but some cool, wet weather reduced fruit set in the Gimblett Rd Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer as well as the Fernhill Viognier. All other varieties set well.

La Niña weather patterns bring higher than average rainfall with moderate temperatures over summer and this led to good canopy growth. This, coupled with warmer than average night temperatures, led to early flavour ripeness at lower Brix than we normally see. This was fortuitous as the unsettled weather during harvest along with the elevated humidity meant this was not a vintage to hang fruit out.

Despite the challenges, we have captured some well flavoured and ripe fruit that should yield us elegant and poised wines which do not appear to be displaying any negative effect from the difficult weather at harvest.

Harvest commenced on the 11th of March and finished on the 16th April.

Marlborough 

No spring frosts in Marlborough either this vintage. A moderately wet and mild winter was followed by very cool early spring temperatures. From mid November onwards temperatures warmed up dramatically and continued through to the end of February, well above long term averages.

By December the vintage had caught up on the cool spring and development was tracking about normal. Crop loads and berries per bunch where high in number, so a lot of effort was put into crop thinning and yield adjustment across all varieties.

Interestingly all of the different sub regions - Awatere, Rapaura, Waihopai and Brancott Valleys, were all tracking about the same in terms of growth and development. Bud burst, flowering and bunch closure all happening at about the same time.

Soil moisture levels remained good through the vintage, with regular timely rainfall which meant canopies were full with very little stress right up to harvest.

Flavour development advanced at lower sugar levels along with lower acidity which fell quickly prior to harvest.

Overall it was a very good vintage - a high yielding year that required careful management. Primary flavour development is excellent across all of our varieties. Good rainfall, strong canopies and few spring and autumn frost events.

Harvest commenced on the 25th of March and finished on the 19th April.