The “kick-off” to the growing season for the 2023 harvest could not have had a better start. Over 90mm of rain in fell in May 2022, enabling our vines to go into winter dormancy with excellent carbohydrate reserves. Winter rainfall overall was slightly below average during June and July and then it rained, and rained, and rained! Leading into the growing season, spring rains were more than triple the norm 220% so soil moisture profiles were full, and creeks ran from the run-off. At Hare’s Chase we enjoyed terrific flowering fruit set conditions resulting in even bunch formation. Summer and early Autumn of 2023 were drier and cooler than average, delivering superb conditions for even ripening with no stress. Phenolic ripeness came early, and the conditions meant well developed, healthy vines resulted in grape bunches ripenening evenly. The result were bright fruit characters with very good concentration, enabling us to produce in rich, vibrant wines of outstanding colour. As we move these wines into barrels we have are highly confident that we will end up with great wines, well-structured and balanced with considerable cellaring potential.
