Vintage 2011

The 2011 vintage is now safely tucked away in the winery and we are pleased to report a very good quality year. During the harvest period, the weather has been absolutely sensational, with day after day of maxima in the high 20’s or low 30’s, without a cloud in the sky.

Grape ripening was steady all the way through but fortunately not so rapid that we couldn’t keep up. Each variety came off at full ripeness but not beyond. Early is the season we experienced some variable conditions when above average temperatures were accompanied by regular rain during spring and early summer. However, the variations generally happened when they suited us best, giving reasonable flowering conditions and topping up the soil moisture. Across all varieties, yields were slightly above average for the early ones and then slightly below average for the later ones. Although it is too early to be definitive, the least we can say is that quality is very encouraging. Given the consistent warmth, we have to compare it to similar warm years like 1983, 1988, 1994, 2003 and 2007. The white wines seem to show the bright fruit characters and freshness of 1983 and this comparison holds true for the reds as well, however on the palate they seem softer and richer, more in keeping with 1994 or 1996.