Vintage Summaries
Vintage 2024
The 2023-24 growing season was wonderful, marked by a welcome return to an El Nino weather pattern, and more stable weather conditions without dramatic temperature or rainfall extremes.
Winter 2023 was dry with 188mm rainfall just 75% of the long-term historical average. (Compare this to 718mm the previous winter)
Spring arrived and September delivered overdue rains to moisten soils before bud-break. October was dry again at less than half the long-term average. The only extreme event in an otherwise ideal start to the growth cycle was a widespread frost event on October 28th which caused damage to pockets of vines across the region. We were fortunate to avoid any ill-effects.
Total rainfall from November through January was about average for the period (200mm) and conveniently fell at regular, well-spaced intervals ensuring healthy canopy growth and fruit development. Temperatures too were relatively warm, close to historical averages and almost mirroring the previous season. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir flowered under ideal conditions while a few days of rain and cooler temperatures had a minor impact on fruit set (and eventual yields) in Sauvignon Blanc.
A period of wet, muggy weather around mid-January was of concern but was immediately followed by a cool change with clear skies and lower night-time temperatures and from here we experienced nine weeks of exceptionally settled weather which carried us from veraison through to harvest.
February was very dry (12mm rainfall) but slightly cooler overall which helped to slow and steady the rapidly developing fruit.
March was similarly dry and a little cooler again with shortening daylight hours. Harvest began with Pinot Noir on March 4 and continued throughout the month in near perfect conditions.
Vintage 2023
Wet is the word that best describes winter 2022 with more than 700mm rainfall officially recorded. July was the wettest on record and a tropical weather bomb in mid-August caused severe flooding and land slips in Nelson city. This was also the second warmest August recorded and with warm, moist soil conditions bud break came earlier than usual with 50% leaf in Mendoza Chardonnay by September 12.
Spring rainfall was normal overall and mirrored the long-term average although October was unusually dry at less than 20mm. Temperatures however were cooler and growth stalled significantly over September and October.
Temperatures had warmed by mid-November and above average rainfall meant vine growth accelerated. Temperatures (day and night) continued to warm through December and with moist soil conditions growth proliferated. Leaf-plucking and trimming was under way earlier than usual in the 2nd week of the month. Flowering progressed under generally favourable conditions though some intermittent rainfall over the first half of December did have a minor impact. Colour change in some of the Pinot Noir was a little extended and variable and berry size in Sauvignon Blanc uneven which resulted in only an average-sized crop.
January began with around 50mm rainfall but the rest of the month followed dry and warm.
The first five days of February were again wet but thankfully this gave way to a welcome spell of cool dry conditions and low disease pressure. Fruit development was rapid over this period and veraison in the earliest Pinot had begun by January 20.
As a region, Nelson was spared the impact of tropical cyclone Gabrielle which devastated many North Island regions. We received a relatively minor 25mm in these days (Feb 22-25) and temperatures were cool.
Harvest extended from March 7 (Pinot) to 31 (Riesling), under excellent conditions which included cooler night time temperatures.
This was an excellent vintage across all varieties.
Vintage 2019
The growing season began with good soil moisture after a wetter than usual July and August. Spring temperatures were average, rainfall slightly below but ample to promote excellent vine health and growth. High winds through November were drying. Regular, small rainfall events over December led into a long, warm, dry, summer. December 25th was the last rain day of any significance until March 8th.
December temperatures were 3 degrees Celcius above normal followed by very warm January daytime temperatures, 5 degrees C above the historical average. Sunshine hours for January were a NZ record high at 355. Diurnal range over this period was a little greater than usual.
There was a marked but brief drop in temperatures over the second week of February but by mid-month the hot dry conditions returned un-abated. Heavier overnight dews and cooler mornings from this time began to return a little freshness to the vineyard. Just 3mm rainfall since Christmas day and harvest began early on Monday 4th March 2019. A function of the near perfect growing season but also a conscious decision on our part to pick fruit while acids remained fresh and sugars were at moderate levels.
In spite of the seriously dry conditions vines looked in great health, fruit firm and in immaculate condition. 30mm rainfall over night on March 8th was significant in the context of the season. It was not extreme however and with a few lay-days to allow conditions to dry out, harvest continued to completion on March 26th.
Incredible to think that the last days of March were once the beginning rather than the end of our harvest.
Vintage 2018
The growing season began warmer and drier than usual. November/December rainfall was significantly below average. These were perfect conditions for flowering which ultimately resulted in above average bunch weights at harvest time.
While the summer months remained warm, they were made difficult by ex-tropical cyclones Fehy and Gita which brought significant rainfall in early February and again in early March. Tight bunches and the moist conditions were challenging for disease control. This was particularly the case with Pinot Noir and we did not produce this wine in 2018. White varieties faired much better and as with 2017, sugars at harvest were quite low. Flavours however are ripe and well-developed, vibrant, aromatically expressive and elegantly balanced.
Vintage 2017
Spring was on the mild to cool side of the temperature range. These conditions persisted deep enough into the season to affect flowering, resulting in lighter than average yields at harvest. Rainfall during spring was well above normal. The summer months were slightly cooler than the historical average but dry enough that February saw the introduction of water restrictions.
Cyclone Debbie (early March) brought unseasonal rainfall and ended the dry peeriod. The cooler season with lighter crop meant that fruit ripened more gradually with harvest beginning about a week later than previous years. All fruit was harvested prior to the onset of the second cyclone, Cook, in mid-April. What was looking to be a prolonged harvest was in the end short and sharp and like 2016 logistically challenging.
Wines at this stage look vibrant and aromatically expressive with outstanding colour in the pinot noir.
Vintage 2016
The 2016 growing season and harvest provided its fair share of challenges to test our nerve and our skills as winegrowers. Cold weather at bud-burst and a coolish spring was not out of the ordinary. Like the year before, spring rainfall was well below the historical average. These cool, dry conditions slowed early season growth. From the outset there were predictions of a drought year and by late December water restrictions had been imposed on the Waimea Plains. Conditions over flowering were settled and crops set at respectable levels. A hail storm on December 19th caused damage to a number of the more coastal vineyards in its path.
Throughout the summer months daytime temperatures were 2-3 degrees above average with warmer nighttime minimums also. Rain after Christmas broke the drought. Warmth plus moisture and vine growth was rapid. Further extreme rainfall events in mid-February and again in late March were problematic in terms of disease and dilution issues.
For us the vintage began March 21st and was complete by the early date of April 6th. It gave us fruit with unusual and unexpected balance. Certainly ‘the numbers’ did not tell the true story. Sugars tended to stall and generally remained lower than usual while acids were beautifully ripe. To delay harvest in the hope of higher brix levels was a mistake. It was a year for strategic decision-making based on fruit condition and flavour development. A year for lower alcohols in wines which promise lovely aromatics, elegance and phenolic balance. Evolution of these wines in the coming months will no doubt continue to tell the story of this vintage.
Vintage 2015
Following bud break in mid-September, spring conditions were, as usual, up and down in temperature with occasional snowfalls on the surrounding ranges. It was also dry with November recording our 3rd driest on record. These dry, cool and at times windy conditions over flowering were far from ideal and ultimately resulted in irregular fruit set and below average yields. December rainfall relieved the very dry conditions and assisted canopy growth. A beautiful, warm summer without extremes followed. February cooled a little and beneficially slowed the accumulation of sugars. High rainfall in early March was cause for some concern but was followed by a month of perfect weather which saw us through to the completion of an early harvest on April 5th.
The early beginning and end to harvest was due to the great growing season and the lower than average crop. In hindsight this fortuitous as there was a long period of persistent rainfall which came at the end of harvest. This is a vintage of vibrant wines displaying excellent depth of ripe flavours.
Vintage 2014
An early start to the growing season preceded a warm spring. A dry November was followed by regular rainfall through December. From Christmas to mid-January conditions were overcast with some high winds. Approx 10 days advanced at flowering. High bunch numbers and ideal weather at flowering resulted in potentially heavy crops requiring later thinning. Signs of veraison in Pinot Noir by mid January, approx 14 days advanced.
75 mm rainfall around March 10 after a prolonged dry spell. Initial concerns about possible disease pressure did not eventuate due to four weeks of warm conditions following with no rainfall at all. This allowed fruit to be harvested without pressure as it achieved desired sugar/acid balance and flavour development. Harvest began early on March 11 and was complete by April 10 and just in time to avoid a significant period of rainfall extending for more than a week. 2014 rates as an excellent vintage.
Vintage 2013
Spring began a little damp and at times cool but by mid October the sun was out and the weather beautifully warm and dry. A perfect period over flowering produced bunches with high berry numbers, plump and heavier than average. This compensated in some varieties for lower than usual bunch numbers, a legacy of the cool season before. One of the best summers in memory followed with day after day of sunshine. Several days of rain in late February and the drought was broken and the heatwave over. A cooler lead into harvest was perfect for varietal flavour development and prevented sugars from becoming overly high. Harvest began relatively early on March 22.
Vintage 2012
The overall impression of the 2011-2012 growing season is that it was a wet one – though not when it really mattered. Spring weather was typically unsettled with regular rainfall. This contrasted with the exceptionally dry Spring of the previous season. Early summer was unusually wet with record periods of rainfall in December and January. February, although drier, was generally cooler than average with more overcast conditions and by mid-February we estimated that fruit development was more than two weeks behind normal. There was concern that without some late heat to the season we would struggle to ripen fruit fully. In late February the sun came out, the rain abated and conditions remained perfect until the end of April and the completion of harvest. This allowed for an almost leisurely harvest with fruit being picked later than usual in pristine condition. Overall, a cooler but excellent vintage with overt aromatics and lower alcohols in some varietals.
Vintage 2011
The 2011 vintage in Nelson was one of the earliest to begin and to be completed. It was a season of extremes which posed a number of challenges in terms of canopy management at certain times. It was a moderate sized harvest of excellent quality which will ultimately express with clarity, aspects of this very individual season. Bud-burst was early and followed by warm, dry conditions which persisted until mid- December through flowering and fruit set. Rainfall over this period was low in the extreme. On our heavier clay sites where soil moisture levels were higher this led to high berry numbers and above average bunch weights. These sites required significant shoot and fruit thinning throughout the summer months. Between mid-December and mid-January we experienced 235mm of rainfall, well above the average for this period. The temperatures throughout were above average and vine growth and fruit development was rapid. February was very dry once again. Overall, this was the warmest summer that we have experienced in Nelson with unusually high humidity also. This resulted in an early beginning to the harvest (mid-March) with some disease pressure in certain varieties. Due to the fact that we hand harvest our fruit, careful fruit selection at the time of picking and further sorting in the winery was possible and all diseased fruit was successfully excluded. Due to the very warm year acid levels fell more rapidly and were in general, mature at sugar levels 1-2 brix lower than normally. This may well prove to be one of the most significant features of the 2011 vintage.
Vintage 2010
The general consensus throughout the country is that the season, (especially later on), was kind and that beautiful fruit was harvested. That’s pretty much the Nelson experience also. Spring was cool as it often is, though without threat of frost. This coolness persisted into early summer slowing vine growth and setting development back somewhat. The consequence of this was a more protracted harvest which began and ended about 10-12 days later than has been typical in recent years. Fine weather throughout the harvest also made it relaxed and stress free. The same cool weather affected the flowering and resulted in a lighter than average crop in most varieties, the exception being Rielsing. In hindsight this was a positive in that a larger crop may well have proved difficult to ripen in a season that was cooler. January and the first half of February was also wetter than usual and cause for concern at the time. To our relief, the last rain of any significance fell on February 16 and from that point on summer truly arrived. It continued fine and warm uninterrupted until the end of April and the conclusion of harvest. Fruit was picked in near perfect physical condition. The later timing resulted in a gradual and extended period of ripening at a time when daylight hours were shortening and nights were significantly cooler. The result was great flavour development, varietal expression and sugar-acid balance.
Vintage 2009
The 2009 Vintage in Nelson rates among the best that we have enjoyed. Bud-burst was relatively even and mild spring conditions meant that there was not the same frost risks of the previous year. These mild conditions persisted throughout most of the spring months moderating canopy growth. Weather over flowering (late November, early December) was fair and led to a moderate to good crop being set. Riesling did suffer from a cool period at the critical time and the crop was subsequently light. The majority of Pinot Noir clones set well and required moderate fruit thinning only. (Bunch weights were much lighter than in 2008 and the requirement for thinning was less extreme). By late December and throughout January conditions became very warm, (above average) and development was advanced. February however was a month slightly more overcast, cooler weather conditions with regular (almost weekly) rainfall throughout.This did lead to some slowing of ripening which while cause for some concern at the time, was ultimately beneficial given the gains made in January. The regular moisture also maintained heathly canopies and helped move fruit evolution on. A perfect period through March and April reduced any early signs of disease pressure, (the result of February rains) and carried fruit through to full development. Harvest began early for some of the younger vines and where crop levels were particularly light. From that point, harvest was protracted and extremely relaxed largely thanks to the cooperation of weather and gradual evolution of each variety towards optimum ripeness. It was a harvest notable for lower than usual sugar levels at harvest yet full flavour evolution. At this early stage the vintage suggest that wines will have bright, intense fruit character with great elegance and finesse.
Vintage 2008
The 2008 vintage in Nelson rates as one of our very best provided that fruit was harvested before the significant rains which persisted from mid-April. Winter was followed by a successful budburst at the usual time around mid-September. Several weeks later a cool period set in. With this came frosts, (unusual for Nelson), which caused damage to a number of vineyards across the region, both hills and plains. While we were unaffected by the frost this cool period did check growth for a time. This was followed by near perfect weather from early October which persisted throughout summer. Weather over flowering (late November, early December), was ideal for the early varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Both Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc were slightly affected by a cool light rain during this critical period and thus cropped a little lower than average.
In terms of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay the excellent fruit set was cause for alarm in terms of the large potential crop which existed. (cf. vintage 2004). At this stage we made the decision to halve bunch numbers by thinning to one bunch per shoot. This was carried out from late January on. While February was a month of slightly more overcast conditions, the perfect weather over the previous four months together with the moderate crop levels set up our earliest ever harvest. Our harvest began on March 15, and was completed by April 9. Like the early 2006 vintage, rain persisted from mid-April.
Vintage 2007
A cooler winter than the previous was followed by good bud-break in mid-September and strong growth during the drier, warmer than average October. In late spring, temperatures became much cooler and growth slowed. These conditions persisted throughout flowering and fruit set in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, significantly reducing crop potential. These were ultimately harvested at 30-40% below usual levels. Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc were affected to a lesser extent. Warm, dry, settled summer conditions followed from mid-January with February warmer and significantly drier than normal. These conditions persisted throughout autumn, resulting in what for us was a small but high quality crop. The small crop and very favourable weather made for a stress-free harvest which began as usual in the last days of March. As in 2005, Pinot Noir bunches were loose and berries small though not quite as extreme. Based on the experience gained in handling such fruit, winemaking was modified slightly to mitigate the effects of a high skins to juice ratio with a view to producing finesse and balance.
Vintage 2006
A mild winter with good rainfall led to a slightly earlier bud burst than usual. Warmer, drier, settled spring weather produced healthy growth and ideal conditions over flowering. December was warm with average rainfall and lower than average sunshine. Regional conditions were already becoming dry. January and February continued fine and slightly drier than average, rapidly advancing fruit maturity. March remained extremely dry and the harvest which began for us on March 19th was our earliest to date. While April delivered twice Nelson‚s average rainfall the early start to the vintage meant that the majority of fruit was in by mid month before the worst arrived. In summary, a very benign vintage with fruit harvested in excellent condition. Wines express ripe fruit with balance and immediate drinkability.
Vintage 2005
Spring was mild and in general terms provided a normal start to the growing season. This changed dramatically from mid-December. The month ended with temperatures 1.7 degrees C below the average and twice the monthly rainfall. This unusual weather pattern persisted for the first two weeks of January, severely affected flowering and fruit set, ultimately reducing yields by 20-60% depending on variety and the timing of flowering. The Nelson region ended the season 45% down in yield. By this stage the season was well behind in terms of fruit development.
From mid-January summer arrived. Temperatures soared, the rain stopped and the month ended as better than average. We began to regain some of the lost time. April was perfect with 30% above average sunshine and a tiny 5% of normal rainfall. Together with the exceptionally low yields harvest began only a day or two later than normal with fruit in near-perfect condition. In Pinot Noir, bunches were loose (reduced berry numbers) with very small berries. The ratio of skins to juice was therefore higher than usual producing wine which expresses greater structure, taughtness and savoury character than most vintages. Ideal for longer term cellaring.