The single greatest factor in reviewing the 2001 vintage is the reduced volumes that were harvested due to the cool November flowering. Vineyard yields for 2001 were 50% of normal levels. Apart from November, it was a normal growing season in every other respect. As is often the case with low cropping years the quality is very high. The vineyards produced a very clean crop of fully ripe grapes that show good balance and concentration. The white wines exhibit the typical Hawkes Bay citrus and stonefruit characters, have good palate weight and are between the 1996 and 1997 vintages in style. The red wines appear similar to the 1991 vintage with good colour, rich fruit flavours and firm tannin structures.