2008 Vintage Report |
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LONG HOT SUMMER PRODUCES MAGIC VINTAGE FOR MARTINBOROUGH
Despite latest warnings of impending power saving campaigns, low lake levels and farmers continuing to suffer the impact of the drought, there’s one part of the country reaping handsome rewards from the long hot summer.
Martinborough winemakers are celebrating what they describe as ‘a magic vintage’ amid predictions of some of the finest Pinot Noir ever to emerge from New Zealand’s smallest wine producing region.
Having endured several tough vintages in recent years, beset by exceptionally low yields, the resilient boutique winemakers of Martinborough are thoroughly enjoying the sweet taste of vintage success.
The real quality of the vintage can be gauged by the enthusiasm of some of the area’s most experienced and well known wine personalities. Janine Tulloch of Martinborough Vineyard echoes the thoughts of many when she terms the 2008 harvest, ‘a vintage you’d dream about’.
Also serving as Chair of Wines From Martinborough, Janine believes the 2008 vintage will produce a clutch of award winners in due course. “We’re thrilled at what looks like a perfect vintage. These wines will thrill wine lovers when they are released – they’ll remember the long hot summer of 2008 for all the right reasons!”
And winemakers Helen Masters at Ata Rangi, Allan Johnson at Palliser Estate, Larry McKenna of Escarpment, Neil McCallum of Dry River, Steve Smith MW from Craggy Range and Paul Mason at Martinborough Vineyard are all smiles as they contemplate the staggering quality of young wines.
The reason for the ‘dream vintage’ is two-fold. Firstly, the weather and secondly, sensitivefine-tuning of the area’s viticulture in response to the local environment.
The warm summer and autumn drought which so plagued farmers provided perfect conditions for ripening grapes. And with many vineyards now well frost protected, the early evil of spring chills were avoided.
As the long hot summer rolled on into autumn the harvest period was dry and sunny, proceeding without a hitch throughout the last few days of March and the first three weeks of April.
While the star in the region is obviously Pinot Noir with winemakers reporting some of the most beautifully coloured, aromatic and finely structured young wines ever seen, there are other notable successes.
The region’s Sauvignon Blanc wines are always distinctive for their richness and concentration, due largely to the naturally lower yields and free-draining gravels of this area. Those from 2008 are no exception. Already showing huge promise, they have pure vivid flavours and excellent weight and texture that can only be achieved with clean, ripe grapes from moderately cropped vines in a perfect season.
In addition, the Chardonnay fruit harvested is of a very high and exciting standard. Those who follow the regions reputation for the aromatic varieties of Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer, all harvested in perfect conditions, will enjoy some very expressive and beautifully composed vines when they are released later in the year.
