As vintage 2011 draws to a close, we can take a deep breath and reflect upon what many will term a very difficult and at times stressful period.
With rain being the main issue (and the associated diseases that occur in those humid conditions) and the corresponding protracted ripening period, this will certainly be a vintage that separates the pack.
It’s ironic the way conditions have affected our estate differently across the vineyard blocks. The older vineyards with the ‘meaner’ free-draining soils are the ones that have shined in the adverse conditions; producing fruit of great flavour concentration. The younger vineyards however, which are planted in more forgiving soils, have gleefully sucked up the extra moisture causing flavours to be less intense. These younger vineyards are more often than not the star performers in the dry conditions that have been the norm for the past few years. All in all, this vintage has provided a very steep learning curve for many in the industry. Many younger generation winemakers and grape growers would never have experienced vintage conditions like this. I can’t help but feel (optimistically) that we have gained some powerful insights that will ensure we continue to be competitive on the world stage.
At Taylors, we will be wrapping up the vintage with the last of the Cabernet Sauvignon picked around the middle of the month. Whilst from a yield perspective, we have received only 40 percent of the expected tonnes, in the cellars our winemakers have been making all the right sort of happy noises about the quality of the fruit they are seeing. At this early stage, all indications are that Riesling and the Chardonnay will be the highlight of the whites and Cabernet Sauvignon the stand-out from the reds.
We will publish a full vintage report once we have completed our post-vintage assessment tastings in August.
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