Cold weather over the period when the vines were in bloom meant that many flowers did not become fertilised and the eventual crop was small. The rest of the summer, however, was hot and the autumn long, lingering and dry. We were thus able to harvest beautifully ripe and healthy fruit.

Cold weather over the period when the vines were in bloom meant that many flowers did not become fertilised and the eventual crop was small. The summer, however, was hot and the autumn was long, lingering and dry. We were thus able to harvest beautifully ripe, healthy fruit. The berry size in this vintage was smaller than usual, which along with the low crop level, has resulted in the wine having good concentration.

Cool weather in late spring and early summer, when the vines were in bloom, meant that many flowers did not become fertilised and the crop was thus small. The rest of the summer, however, was long, lingering and dry. We were thus able to harvest fully ripe fruit with beautifully concentrated flavours.

2005 gave very low crops all over the South Island and therefore wines of exceptional concentration. This is a selection of riesling from Marlborough, Nelson and Canterbury. Marlborough has given the backbone, Nelson a grapefruit complexity and Canterbury lemon, lime and spice.