Easter holidays come early for Leasingham
28 March, 2007
Winemakers and cellar staff at Clare Valley's Leasingham Wines are contemplating their first Easter holiday in more than 30 years after one of the earliest finishes to vintage in decades.
As the winery crushed the last grapes of the 2007 vintage this week, its longest-serving vineyard supervisor, Eric Mount, said he could not recall an earlier end to vintage in his 34 years at Leasingham.
Similarly, cellar employee, Nevin Lane, who began with the company in 1979, is looking forward to his first Easter holiday in 28 years.
The harvest for whites commenced 10 days earlier than normal on 5 February, and was completed three weeks early, while for reds, picking started two weeks early and finished one month early.
"It was also one of the smallest vintages in many years, but the quality of the fruit this season was very good," Leasingham's Senior Winemaker, Mr Simon Osicka, said.
"We were anticipating a very difficult season due to the drought, and long-term weather predictions of significant rainfalls during harvest, so we are quite pleased with the outcome," he said.
"During the growing season we did not experience many of the previous seasons, which can stress and shut down the vines.
"Although this summer was warmer than average, it was consistent, allowing the vines to continue to function well, maintain a healthy leaf canopy and produce fruit with fresh, flavoursome characters.
"Riesling benefited from the 80mm of rain that fell in the Clare Valley in January, maintaining adequate leaf coverage on the vines, ripening evenly and early, and achieving forecast yields.
"This rain was beneficial to maintain vine health, and by the time of the next major rainfall on March 19, vintage had been completed."
While pre-vintage forecasts were conservative, Riesling achieved its targeted yields, however, yields of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon were down approximately 40% of expected intake, due primarily to the effects of the drought and cool windy conditions at flowering.
Highlights of the 2007 vintage are Riesling, which shows great flavour intensity with atypical Clare Valley citrus and spice characters. Classic Clare Shiraz will be fantastic, with indications of wines showing great concentration and power, spicy ripe fruit flavours and great generosity and length.