2008 Vintage:

It was a wild ride, being a winemaker in 2008 Vintage! The season had been kind to us up until New Years Eve and then we had a bout of extremely cold weather which stressed the vines somewhat. There was also no rain in this period until vintage. February came out with an extended hot spell which ripened the grapes up very quickly. Being so small we were able to get into it very quickly and managed to take nearly all the grapes in optimum condition.

The crops levels were not high, the vines still recovering from the drought, and we had a great team of pickers, so they all came off when we wanted them. We did not, in the end require all our fermenters but were full up in the winery for a month. Luckily, being at altitude in the Pyrenees the nights are still cooler and we did not have the sort of extreme heat they experienced in South Australia, with the consequent high sugar levels and shriveling. 

2008 Sally's Paddock wines are excellent and some of the Cabernets are magnificent. We have several different Pinot Noir batches, some of them outstanding. Shiraz is also good, so all in all we are happy, if a little exhausted.