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The growing season for the 2009 vintage began with budburst in early September 2008. This had been preceded by a very dry winter, which was then followed by a dry spring; this resulted in quite a few frosts that caused a fair bit of concern in the district. We had about twenty frost events in the September/October period with several below minus two temperatures (-2) being recorded, however due to our frost protection system (flippers) and a good crew we survived with no apparent damage. November although still drier than average, was quite cool and very windy but as most varieties had flowered and set their fruit in October our end of November yield estimate saw good average bunch numbers in all varieties apart from Cabernet Sauvignon. Unfortunately the Cabernet Sauvignon, which is the latest maturing grape we have, was flowering during those cold and windy conditions and as such the set is not all that good and we can expect reduced yields at vintage. Uneven setting of the fruit is not uncommon for Cabernet Sauvignon in cool climate viticulture and is often referred to as “chicken and hen.” A second estimate carried out in mid January confirmed that the Cabernet Sauvignon set was indeed poor and that some of the inflorescence’s (early flower development) counted in November had not survived either so bunch numbers were also down. On the upside the January estimate also confirmed that Shiraz would be around the average to good mark, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Petit Verdot look good and the Merlot has the best fruit set I have seen for that variety in the last four years. In early January I would have predicted that we were about ten days behind last year, but then in the first couple of weeks we had some very good even temperatures in the mid twenty to thirty degree range followed now by much higher day temperatures with cooler but still warm nights. I think vintage will be about normal for the crop loads we have, that is to say, whites in late February to mid March and the reds to follow shortly after. Overall the vineyard is looking good and our vines are in good health so I believe we are well positioned to handle the current heat wave, I feel confident that we will produce some very good quality fruit this year, particularly with the Sauvignon Blanc. Even though the tonnages will be down, in fact probably because the tonnages are down, the Cabernet Sauvignon fruit quality should be very high so I am looking forward to a very good quality 2009 vintage in all varieties. At this stage it would appear that there is not a lot of interest from annual buyers to purchase any variety of wine grapes but I do believe that when people realise the amount of “chicken and hen” that is in Cabernet Sauvignon around the Limestone coast, there will be a market. Peter Copping |