Our 2019 growing season was not without its challenges. Winter started unusually warm and dry but took a turn late in the season with sustained temperatures below -20 C arriving in February. Vines suffered from a range of winter damage. As a result, drawn out and uneven bud break was evident in several of our vineyard pockets. Conditions turned more favourable in May allowing delayed shoots to catch up. However, rain set in towards the end of June and periods in July, keeping the vineyard team on their toes regarding crop protection and canopy work. A warm and dry August gave us ideal ripening conditions and set us up for harvest to begin on schedule.
Dodging rain showers throughout the rest of September, harvest continued until early October when the first frost caused the vine canopy to drop and us to bring in the remaining parcels of fruit. Although yields are shy from 2019, the wines have so far emerged as beautifully nuanced with restrained alcohols and purity of fruit.