One of our labels, The Cunning Plan, alludes to the fact
that with every new vintage there is a new, unique challenge and only those
flexible and creative enough will rise to the challenge.
The growing season prior to vintage 2014 has certainly
illustrated that one should never taken anything for granted – though the
challenges faced in Australia
certainly pale into comparison with those faced by Europe
in 2013.
After a winter with adequate water, spring was dry but the
flowering period brought mixed weather with mild, hot and windy weather in
succession – leading to poor fruit set for some varieties. Growers in some
areas of Barossa were also devastated by a black frost, hitting the area around
Ebenezer particularly hard.
December brought mild weather and the promise of a return to
the traditional, later harvests and moderate alcohols of yesteryear. Indeed,
the leisurely progress of veraison suggested that harvest would be at least a
couple of weeks later than last year.
However, the increasingly common heatwaves returned with
avengeance leading to a non consecutive period of 13 days over 40 degrees,
breaking the previous record of 12. Good reserves of water meant that the vines
survived remarkably well but then, just as vines were rushing fruit through to
ripeness, mother nature intervened again and dropped up to 160mm of rain in 30 hours!
Though there has been some splitting, the weather is now set
fair and the vines, having had a much needed drink, are now slowly ripening
their fruit with the potential to still give 2014 all the qualities of a great
year. We’re certainly looking at a longer growing season and one that promises
lower alcohols.
There is still much to play for but we are excited about the
potential – watch this space.
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