2008

The first three months were warmer than average. We began to think we would have another warmer vintage with an early harvest as we did in 2000 and 2003. Spring then turned cold and pushed back the 2008 harvest dates to give us more typical timing and temperature conditions. The Spring rain provided enough water for the vines to have good growing conditions. Flowering started several days earlier than average but cold weather with some rainy days interrupted and dragged out this vital period. Many more rainy days followed over the Summer months, especially in July. August and September failed to produce their usual long hot, dry periods. Instead we lived with a serious threat of rain and hail storms right up to harvest time. There were at least 4 hail storms in 45 days and we were all feeling increasingly nervous and worried. However, our vineyards are spread over 15 different sites in a 20km wide circle. This is complicated in term of cultivation but it always proves to be good in terms of hail damage. It is very unlikely that hail will destroy the whole region. Unfortunately, we did lose 50 % of the crop in one of our vineyards. The rest suffered little or no damages. The harvest started on 13th of September. We began with low yield old vines Sauvignon blanc on the Mali Kog slopes as they ripen one week earlier than the main Sauvignon crop. The vintage really got underway in the last ten days of September and we then did not stop until the 26th of October. The weather during the harvest of Sauvignon blanc and Pinot gris was cold and dry. The second half of October continued dry and sunny with daily temperatures between 15-20°C which was good for later ripening grapes including Sipon/Furmint and Riesling. Although the weather throughout the growing year 2008 was colder and wetter than average and marked with frequent hail storms, good vineyard management, no water stress and moderate temperatures during ripening period followed by a largely dry harvest period preserved the natural cool climate varietal aromas. The new wines are therefore looking very fresh and pleasant.

The vintage was slightly colder than average. There were many hail storms – luckily not lethal for us. Careful work in the vineyard, sufficient water supply in the soil and moderate temperatures during ripening seson, followed by dry windy autumn, created and preserved plentiful natural varietal cool climate aromas in the grapes. Wines tastes threfore fresh and pleasant.