Blog

Vintage Report 2024

The dust is starting to settle on vintage 2024 as ferments quietly tick away and the first few Sauvignons have finished ferment. The winery smells truly delicious currently. 

A warm and dry season, late season frost and a cooler start to the flowering period in December created low-yields across much of the region. As an average our estate and grower blocks were 25-30% down, with a surprising number of Sauvignon vineyards yielding single digits. Fruit was hanging pristinely on the vine with smaller than usual bunches. With the quality of fruit in 2024 I know many in Marlborough are quietly brimming with excitement.

It was a dream run with little disease pressure, as Marlborough had the driest summer on record. Harvest started on the 13th of March and was more of a sprint than a marathon, with the last block coming in on the 30th of March. The earliest finish to harvest many can remember.

The resulting wines will be somewhat bolder than usual with excellent flavour and expression. Once the ferments are finished, they will spend time on lees without racking to build further palate weight and complexity. This year time is on our side and the wines will certainly benefit not being rushed to market.

Cheers to a truly remarkable 2024 season.

 

Matt Ward

15/04/2023