After a wet September, spring commenced with good soil moisture and bud burst occurred at the normal time of early October. Temperatures hovered around average throughout the remainder of spring for consistent and even growth. December ended up being the warmest month above average for the growing season, and along with very low rainfall, aided a successful flowering and fruit set.
The dry conditions prevailed throughout January and February limiting berry size and setting the scene for fruit with elevated phenolic material and complexity. Judicious use of irrigation was required to maintain sufficient vine health throughout this sustained dry period. Temperatures never spiked and hovered around average enabling a slow and steady path to maturity. The final ripening month of March was cooler than average with periodic light rain events moderating the final run into harvest. A distinctive feature of March 2024 was the cool night temperatures preserving acidity, freshness and precision of fruit character. Picking started on 18 March with Pinot Noir at Cornish Point and Chardonnay the following day. All of the Chardonnay was completed by 23 March. Pinot Noir at Calvert, Elms and MacMuir were harvested over fine conditions and at a leisurely pace as the various blocks slowly matured until the Pinot Noir was completed on 9 April. Riesling in Blocks 2 and 4 were harvested from 5-10 April,
with the heavy soils of Block 1 requiring extra time to conclude the overall harvest on 19 April. What is interesting is the remarkable and pleasing consistency experienced over the last four growing seasons. Total heat summation has varied very little with 2024 being the outlier, but still only 5% cooler than the average. Similarly, growing season rainfall has also been very consistent with 2024 again the outlier, but still just a moderate 12% less (being 40mm or one decent rain event). What does make the difference to the overall quality and personality of the vintage is the exact period when we do experience warmer or cooler conditions and when we do receive replenishing rains or experience sustained dry conditions. These factors are complicated and nuanced, but pleasingly subtle with a relatively benign overall influence to normal quality, mainly due to our very low base level rainfall patterns, low humidity and long sunshine hours. When certain combinations align, we see precision, detail and complexity in the wines – all in the hands of mother nature.