Vintage Guide

Adelaide Hills – 2023

Winter rainfall was back to average following a comparatively dry 2021/2022 season, with a wet August and September. Cold conditions delayed budburst, but October saw rapid shoot growth. November was exceedingly wet with over three times the average rainfall across the Adelaide Hills. Continued wet weather saturated the soil, posing challenges for vineyard access and increasing disease pressure. Development of downy mildew infections in the pre-flowering bunches caused some damage, but ideal flowering conditions in mid-December resulted in good set and a moderate crop level. Veraison began in the last week of February, one of the latest on record. The 2023 pinot gris from Littlehampton was picked in the third week of March, the latest harvest since 2006. The resulting wine shows extraordinary flavour with excellent balance, aromatics and a long, lingering finish. 

LENSWOOD VINEYARD – 2023

The 2023 vintage marked three years of regenerating our bushfire affected vines, following the 2019 Cudlee Creek fire. Winter saw 550mm of rain and cold conditions at Lenswood, which delayed budburst. The end of November and early December was exceedingly wet with over three times the average rainfall. Continued wet weather saturated the soil, posing challenges for vineyard access and increasing pest and disease pressure. Development of downy mildew infections in the pre-flowering bunches caused some damage, but ideal flowering conditions in mid-December resulted in good set. Veraison began in the last week of January, which led on to an early vintage. As anticipated, a small crop was harvested, including chardonnay, riesling, gewürztraminer, grüner veltliner, pinot noir, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. The wines show excellent aromatics, flavour and acidity.