It’s been a while since I’ve had the time or energy to write anything. I feel I’ve been in recovery mode from the 2016 vintage since it finished, but that was nearly two months ago so I probably need to toughen up a little and get on with life.
Various factors combined to make it the craziest vintage I’ve ever experienced. Warmer than usual weather in Spring of 2015 brought some of the later ripening vineyards or varieties forward quite a bit, so that everything was ripe at once. Normally I’d harvest over 5-6 weeks, this year it was compressed to 3, which put a massive strain on the winery and staff (me). All of the tanks were constantly full, and I’ve never been so physically shot in my life, mercifully it didn’t last long.
Harriet's Vineyard, November 2015
The good news is that it was all worth it, the wines are looking great. The Chardonnay and Cabernets are looking great as I would expect, but the pleasant surprise is the Pinot. Normally Pinot might do it tough in a warmer year, but they look really fragrant and elegant, the benefit of only dealing with good vineyards I guess.
Meanwhile, the 2015s that have been released are drinking really well, so far the Yarra Valley Chardonnay and Pinot, and the Petit Verdot. Fairly soon I’ll release the 2015 Harriet’s Vineyard wines, and a Bordeaux blend ‘Cabernets’ for the first time. Keep an eye on the email newsletter to find out when these are released.