Week three into our vintage journey and could not resist sharing this week's view of the Gnadenberg Road Shiraz development. There is no question the harvest season will be delayed until mid to late autumn and is set to be an exceptional season.
Speaking with Peter Raymond, Garden & Field Wines viticulturalist, winemaker and entrepreneur, the 2023 vintage 'compares to 2017, with a slow ripening season and generous rain until early summer'.
This is by no means a disappointment, as the outcome means increased berry size and ultimately, more juice! A good thing for a dry-grown, limited production vineyard.
While walking the vineyard and cradling a few grape bunches Pete noted, 'the wine flavours are set to be elegant, have less tannin and will create spicy wines with red and blue fruit flavours.
Smiling with a heart-warming chuckle, Pete concluded 'the red grape colours are intensifying and the sweet sugars are starting to be more evident as natural berry acid begins to decrease'.
