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Pruning in the vineyard is nearly complete, the vines look stark, the vineyard floor has been mulched and the platform in place for budburst and the first flush of spring growth….. a new season begins. Our company has 90 hectares of vineyard at Gimblett Road in Hawkes Bay and much of the next few months will be spent frost fighting as our vineyard manager ensures the protection of the new season grape crop. He monitors temperatures, ensures our eight windmachines are in perfect working order and ensures supplementary heating is ready if required. He has an excellent alarm system and a very understanding wife as he can spend many nights out at the vineyard. So we have all this to look forward to and the absolute aim is to produce the best grapes possible.

In the winery we have just completed the blending of our 2009 vintage reds, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec have been ageing in oak barriques for the last 13 to 14 months. In winemaking terms blending is one of the most exciting times, we spend many days fine tuning the best possible combinations of each of the varieties to produce the style, fruit flavours and quality we are after. It is immensely satisfying when we know we have created the best possible blend.

Bottling too is a huge part of our workload at this time of year. Wines need to be blended, prepared for bottling, analysed often in the laboratory, tasted regularly and then fine filtered prior to filling the bottles. There is a sense of real achievment seeing bottles roll off the line, ready for market. The first of our 2010 wines to be bottled is usually Sauvignon Blanc, as it is important we capture the vibrant, fresh, fruity characters of this popular winestyle.

Much time too is spent in market, working together with our agents and distributors, both domestically and offshore. It is such an important part of our winemaking calender. Since the completion of vintage we have visited , and with further trips planed for the , The Philippines and again. These visits entail training staff in our wines, trade visits to understand market conditions, consumer tastings as well as many winemaker degustation dinners…..not good for the waistline!!…..but is the best way to showcase our wines.

Over the last 18 months we have really begun to make some good traction with our red wines. In particular both Merlot and Syrah have led the charge. I am sure it is the expressions of vibrant fruit coupled with good firm structure and depth of flavour that have made these wines popular. We look forward to seeing this bedded down further.

Work too is commencing on a new brand, but more of that in the next update.

Kind regards

Vintage Information:

Reds are such a large part of our production and really reflect the strength of our

2007

Warm spring temperatures resulted in excellent fruit set. Temperatures through veraison were high and rainfall was low, resulting in very low disease pressure at harvest. Grapes were picked in ripe, clean condition showing excellent varietal character. Firm tannins and good depth flavour, expressive wines with excellent ageing ability.

2008

Average spring temperatures, with several cool November days, resulting in poor fruit set in Chardonnay and Merlot. Warm temperatures and low rainfall ensured that fruit quality and condition was generally excellent, albeit with a lower than average yield. Some heavy dews and humid days late season required prudent vineyard management regarding disease pressure. 2008 vintage reds display elegance and restraint, fruit flavours are fragrant and fine and will develop well in the bottle.

2009

Spring frost events occurred in late September/October, but this was followed by warm November and December conditions, so fruit set was good. Fruit thinning occurred in our premium blocks. Temperatures were above average and rainfall low, excepting February. This February rain along with some heavy dews did cause some disease pressure with Chardonnay, which was well managed in the vineyard. These young reds are bold and intense, well structured and vibrant in fruit. The entry level reds are being released over the next few months.