Vintage Reports

1990

Vintage conditions in 1990 were a winemakers ideal. The ripening season was long and very cool, resulting in full-bodied, intensely flavoured wines showing excellent varietal character, with very good cellaring potential.

1991

The 1991 vintage was preceded by a dry growing season which resulted in lower than average yield, and an early vintage of short duration. The red wines show good colour and excellent varietal character, with good balance and structure. These wines showed an appealing drinkability when released, and are starting to look extremely attractive now they've had a few years in the cellar.

1992

The 1992 vintage enjoyed a long, dry but cool ripening season resulting in a late harvest. Crop levels were about average. The red wines produced show exceptional colour and depth of flavour, with strong tannin structure to match. Shiraz was particularly successful. The white wines also show exceptional varietal flavour and good balance.

1993

The 1993 vintage began very late after a cool, damp growing season. Warm weather then followed and harvest was of short duration. Yields were very low. The red wines produced were not as solid as some years, but they show exceptional fruit aromas with good balance and structure. More open than the 1992 vintage initially, with strong varietal fruit flavour and relatively approachable as young wines. Shaping up nicely in the cellar. Shiraz excellent.

1994

The 1994 vintage produced record yields with almost all varieties. The red wines show an appealing balance with rich, round fruit character and good tannin structure. It also produced classy white wines, displaying fully developed varietal fruit flavour. The vintage began normally, but cool conditions made it quite protracted, continuing until early May with the picking of the Sangiovese.

1995

The 1995 vintage was preceded by an extremely dry winter. Although there was a good fruit set, minimal summer rainfall ensured a low yielding crop. Cool, dry weather throughout the ripening period enabled the fruit to ripen slowly. The small berries produced wines with intense colour, rich fruit flavour, good structure and firm tannins.

1996

The 1996 vintage was preceded by a cool dry summer. The vintage began on time in late February with two hot spells in the low to mid 30's bringing many of the grapes to full ripeness. The late ripening varieties like Grenache and Sangiovese were finally picked in mid to late April. Yields were moderately good with quality high. Red wines have balance with excellent depth of colour, distinct varietal flavours and good tannin.

1997

Vintage was a long and drawn out but rewarding affair in 1997. The fruit ripened extremely slowly due to an exceptional heatwave in February, and then the second coolest March on record. Despite the delays, the white wines already released, show very good varietal flavours and balance. Although we expect the red wines not to be as solid as some vintages, the richness of the fruit and the balance of the tannins, should result in wines with good approachability while young, and the structure to mature in bottle.

1998

We enjoyed good weather conditions during the 1998 vintage, ensuring excellent ripening of the fruit. The resultant wines show rich strong varietal fruit flavours.

1999

Inclement weather during the flowering period meant a poor set resulting in low yields. McLaren Vale enjoyed warm weather during the 1999 vintage which ensured even ripening, leading to wines which display excellent elegant varietal characters.

2000

A warm early spring meant early budburst for the 2000 vintage growing season. Late spring was cool and overcast during flowering, causing poor berry set which meant that many vineyards produced a very low yield. A hot January ensured rapid flavour and ripeness development, which resulted in an early start to vintage. The majority of our fruit was harvested within the first three weeks of February with promising flavour and balance.

Timing was fortunate, as late February saw an event unheard of in McLaren Vale at that time of year - 60mm of rain! Some berries split and there was threat of Botrytis. In out-lying districts birds became a pest. However the final two small vineyards supplying Coriole had to be picked not because of birds but to save the grapes from large numbers of bees sucking juice from each berry.

2001

During the growing season for the 2001 vintage we have enjoyed warm weather with no rain to speak of. The early indications are extremely promising for both red and white wines, with excellent fruit flavours evident in the ferments. Interestingly, the red grapes seem to have produced intense flavour development at lower beaume's (ripeness levels) than they often show. Merlot is looking quite elegant with great bouquet. Shiraz and Cabernet are both showing excellent concentration in flavour and colour.