First Always Last

All Hands on Deck

Questions are often asked of the Proprietor to the tune of, "How hands-on are you, really?" The answer of course is, very, and here is proof positive.

Those very hands ...

... worked to the bone

Anyway, all nonsense aside, we picked everything today at Gibbston (First Paddock), our coolest site and always 2 or 3 weeks behind our other two vineyards. We took approximately 9 tonnes, 4.5 tonnes per hectare – good low cropping. In addition, the bunch sizes were small – avg 100-110 gms, and small berry size, so we expect very good depth of colour and flavour. This fruit is now enjoying a cold soak in our oak fermenters, 3 ferments in all, succeeding The Last Chance from Alex, which is already in barrel. The clone 5 ferment is probably the star, and here we are at about 25 % whole bunch.

Nathan and Kieth enjoy another day out in the vineyard. Honestly, we don’t know why we pay them, they have too much fun.

Viticulturist Mike Wing is on quality control, but is mostly agog at the sheer beauty of his fruit.