The Vintage
This was a warm and dry year with a hailstorm during ripening. Luckily this didn’t drastically reduce the quantity but it did make pruning the next season a challenge. The dryness contibuted to smaller berries and a reduced quantity of juice. This makes the wines of this year very full flavoured but not a huge quantity.
Sauvignon Blanc
The 2002 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon has subtle herbaceousness on the nose that is not so obvious in the beginning but improves with time. The straw colour is characteristic of the accomplished ripeness. The palate shows gooseberry fruit combined with well balanced acid which gives the wine its big mouth feel and protracted, persistent palate.
Cellar for 5 years plus.
Chardonnay
The 2002 Chardonnay nose is already showing classic fruit flavours along with subtle french oak. The spicy melon flavour blends with the balanced acid and nut-meal oak complexity producing an integrated flavoursome wine with extended length and fullness.
Cellaring potential 10 years plus.
Gamay
The nose of the 2002 Gamay is showing bold exciting fruit. Spicy Blueberry and Mulberry along with subtle white pepper are the dominant aromas. The palate is full and flavoursome incorporating all of the above. The acid and delicate tannin integrate to produce a well rounded finish.
The Cellaring Potential 8-12 years.
Cabernet Sauvignon/ Cabernet Franc/ Merlot
The bouquet of the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Merlot is exhibiting nice blackberry and black cherry aromas. This fruit carries on to combine with a hint of plum and cassis on the palate. These fruit flavours along with the complex tannins and french oak provide a rich silky texture which stays long after wine is consumed.