What makes a great vintage?? A great vintage, which does not happen that often, is a year that produced high quality wines from all varieties and in all price ranges. In a physiological sense, a great vintage is an ideal pattern of weather, that produces superb growing conditions for the cultivation of wine grapes. As the high tide does with all boats in the harbour, a great vintage lifts fruit quality across all price and quality determinations.
Great vintages are what we winemakers live for, years that offer wines of unique and intensive regional character that can age and evolve.
The final 30 days prior to harvest, the intensity of the harvest itself, and the vinification of the fruit, occurs over a period of just 3-months. As we only harvest wine grapes once per year, the vintage period is critical to the success of the business over the coming 12 months. Without our yearly grape harvest, the winery will have nothing to sell from that vintage. The emotional roller coaster is as addictive as it is mentally and physically challenging. Anxiety and exhilaration taking separate control on a daily (even hourly) basis is energy sapping. I have found in the past that working with all the senses ‘dialed in’ for that period and investing yourself emotionally you get an accurate internal measure on the success of the vintage. You know exactly if we got it all right the moment the last wine ferment finishes. And if it is a great vintage, that feeling becomes a lifelong memory.
Mudgee enjoyed excellent winter rains in 2015 which gave our vines a head start in the following mild Spring. Early fruit set in the season was ideal and moderate yields were achieved across all varieties. These two factors alone equated to fruit ripening earlier (avoiding potential inclement weather late in the season) and with excellent flavour concentration. The Summer growing season was warmer than average though extreme heatwaves were rare. The January deluge that hit the Hunter Valley did not extend as far inland as Mudgee. Whilst we had higher than average rains in January, this was ahead of the critical ripening stage, where tight grape bunches have the potential to harbour disease given wet conditions. The resulting quality across both whites and reds was excellent. Their flavours and structures will place the 2016 reds in the highest niche.
It is impossible to say which wines were the best in vintage 2016. They all excelled. Whites appear fresh and vibrant. Reds were harvested at perfect flavour ripeness and ideal levels of tannin and sugar. They show classic Mudgee mid-palate acidity, are medium bodied, and are truly ideal to cellar.
