Vintage Notes from Winemaker Helen Masters
2011
Bud burst started wonderfully with a warmer than average September, which continued on through the vital months of November and December when the vines were flowering. This made for a much more relaxed spring, with wind machines (frost fighting) barely used. Bunch set was very good, too good, so crop was taken back to a level that would ensure even, complete ripeness. January gave us some amazing summer days, tempered by cool nights. The warm temps and high sunlight hours cemented tannin ripeness in seeds and skins. March and April cooled off with some rain showers that were much needed by the dry soils. The 2011 wines look to be classics - ripe tannins, vibrant acids and remarkably balanced.
2010
The season got off to a very slow start with cool temperatures through October and November. Flowering was a good 2-3 weeks late and rather patchy as the variable yields at harvest demonstrate. January was average with respect to rainfall and temperature, and overall we started the key ripening period of March-April still a good two weeks behind. Although a little nervous by the end of February, conditions quickly turned. From mid-March on we experienced idyllic summer weather, with warm sunny days and cool nights that went on right through to the end of May. Harvest started two weeks later than normal, the late, dry Indian summer meaning fruit came in great condition. The white wines of this vintage are particularly exciting.
2009
The memorable feature of 2009 was the warm January. Prior to that we'd had a lovely “average’ spring and start to the summer. March and April brought a cool change with cool nights and beautiful clear days that sat around 22-24C. A stunning vintage across all varieties.
NOTE: It will be interesting to compare 2009 and 2010 seasons into the future. They had quite different weather patterns, with 09 warm early (Jan) and cool later (Apr/May) , while 2010 was almost the exact opposite.
2008
This was a remarkable season from start to finish. Weather couldn't have been better; from the start of spring flowering, right through the summer and into harvest. Fruit was in beautiful condition with lush flavours and ripe tannins resulting in a range of excellent wines. Altogether, 2008 was a huge lift for our spirits after the tiny crops of 2007.
2007
Late frosts and a cold, wet December resulted in a very low fruit set of around 0.5 T/acre - even lower than 2003. The Pinot Noir harvest was only one-third the size of the 2006 intake. January started off with cooler then average weather but by February things were well on track for a perfect season – just very little fruit to ripen! Fine average temperatures rolled on through right to the end of May, resulting in healthy vines, clean fruit and no disease pressure at all. The patchy fruit set meant there was some shrivel in the PInot, which means more tannin and quite a muscular structure - so great ageing potential. Drink the 2006 before the 2007.
2006
A very welcome, average size crop thanks to the lack of damaging frosts and favourable spring conditions. Lovely harvest conditions followed an appropriately warm January and February, with very little wind. There was a heat spike for a week in January, but generally days were warm, rather than hot, and nights were cool, creating excellent and very pure, vibrant fruit rather than the more savoury “tannin and power” characteristics of 2005. More classic varietal character coming through in all the wines, but especially the beautifully balanced pinots.The good conditions resulted in a better than expected yield. Fruit was in excellent conditionwith very little shrivel, a nice change from the various challenges of the previous four seasons.
2005 - Will keep
Cold Nov/Dec again meant poor flowering and very low yields, a real blow coming so soon after the spring frosts which had also cut the 2003 harvest right back. In late Jan/early Feb it was very hot and dry. Rain arrived in March, bringing patchy weather pre vintage, sending the team for extra leaf plucking to open up the canopies. Weather was reasonably settled during April and the main part of harvest. Very small bunches and berries were a feature; wine are quiet dense as a result. Pinot Noir 2005 is best decanted an hour or so before serving. It is still quite tight, very textured wine, with huge palate length. Savoury hints come through, and a brambly, almost peppery, spicy edge adds complexity. Tannin is still dense, gruff even, but softens with time in the glass. Flavours and aromas are heady and fragrant, with plums and spice dominating. Don’t be in a hurry to drink this vintage.
2004 - Drink now(ish), and before the 2003
Rain in November was followed by an excellent warm, dry period through Dec/Jan. Fruit was bountiful, and we crop-thinned extensively. Heavy rain hit in the last week of January, and we were reminded how good it is to be on stony ground. Although bridges at the river entrances to Martinborough were closed due to flooding, up on our slightly higher, free-draining ground, the ground water vanished as fast as it could puddle. February was generally pretty dismal weather wise with only intermittent patches of sunshine and drying breezes. Thankfully autumn was settled and warm, and the crop had the chance to dry out before harvest. Ultimately, Pinot Noir 2004 reached good sugar levels and ripeness. The wine is lighter, with less colour and tannin than hotter, drier years like 2003.
2003 - Will keep
Yields were slashed in half due to severe, recurring spring frosts and poor weather at flowering. Hardest hit blocks failed to crop at all. The joys of peasant famring! The average yield was less than 1 T/acre. Plenty of lovely warm days through the summer, but overall it was variable with some very cold temperatures in February. Harvest was thankfully very settled and dry, though cool. The spring frosts meant that fruit set timing (and therefore ripeness) was all over the place – it was definitely a year for hand-picking fruit. Leaf canopies were notable for their openness and scrappiness, a hangover from the frosts and wind. Quite a Burgundian season (warm summer, cool autumn) and one with very exciting potential. Another wine which will benefit hugely from decanting.
2002 - Drink now
Wet and wetter through the growing season with triffid-like canopies which refused to stop growing! The vineyard team made many extra passes to leaf-pluck and top the growth, important for exposing the fruiting zone to sunlight and drying winds. The vintage was saved by Martinborough’s amazingly free-draining gravels, the three weeks of fine, settled March weather and the dry spell throughout the April harvest. Crop-thinning, a rare event in Martinborough, was employed in some blocks to ensure full ripeness. An elegant, opulent, silky textured wine with gorgeous flavours and aromas now. Spend time just inhaling this one!
2001
Despite a generally cold spring in 2000 which included frosts (and even hail in November) December was warm - and flowering was the best we'd then experienced. Fruit set well and the vines bore a crop to rival that of 1996.The cool summer followed by a warm autumn produced ripe grapes with bright flavours, good levels of natural acidity and low pH's. A fine vintage following the out-standing 2000 vintage.
2000
Generally summer temperatures were on the cool side, but autumn was warm and dry, ideal for ripening. With fewer of the cool and windy episodes we typically experience in spring and over flowering, crops were the best since 1996, at around 2 tonnes per acre. Grapes were fully ripe with excellent levels of natural acidity and low pH's, a classic cool-climate vintage after the two warm-hot vintages 1998 and 1999. The vintage 2000 wines in general are tightly focused with beautiful varietal expression and balance. One of our very best vintages of Pinot Noir. Probably long gone by now, but well cellared in cool temps this will still be stunning wine.