• 1991

    The season was early, with a very hot December and the quickest flowering we have ever experienced, followed by prolonged settled weather, one quite heavy rainfall on the 9/10th April and thereafter clear weather until harvest was completed on the 27th April.  We consider the year to be our best yet; the wines, in technical terms, have very low pH’s and quite low acids.

  • 1990

    Vintage was in mid-season as far as timing went, starting in late March and finishing on the 3rd May.  We had only 30mm of rain in April and providentially were missed by the deluges that hit Taranaki and Wanganui.  The relative merits of 1989 and 1990 compare to those of 1983 and 1982; 1989 and 1983, being years of drought giving intense, big weighted and slow developing wines; 1990 and 1992 giving more fruitiness and suppleness, slightly lower alcohols and mid to long term ageing capabilities.

  • 1989

    1989 was a dry year.  There was scarcely any rain during a warm and early spring; we had intermittent showers over the week between Christmas and New Year, and then following a cool and cloudy but quite dry January no further rain until well after harvest.  The total rainfall for the 1st October to 30th April growing season was just over 110mm.  Vintage was almost a month earlier than average and finished on the 31st March.

  • 1988

    Certainly not as bad as made out by media who dismissed it well before harvest.  Fruity, forward wines, with good colours and flavours.  Chardonnay and reds may surprise with their quality.  Similar to ’80-’81.

  • 1987

    Very good.  Low yields, intense colours and flavours with low pH’s.  Great cellaring wines with length and breadth of flavour.  A year where rain in February enabled fruit to ripen to full maturity without dehydrating.

  • 1986

    A year of big crops and very forward, fruity wines, with rich flavours but lacking backbone and length.  Higher pH’s, especially in Chardonnay.  Therefore, not so much wines to keep, but very good current drinking.

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