Winter and early spring rainfalls and moderate temperatures meant vines grew evenly though out our vineyards from around the spring equinox in late September. Frost incidence was moderate keeping us watchful in October and November with the majority of our vineyards avoiding frost damage. Rapid vegetative growth kept our vineyard team busy with shoot thinning, cultivation, and organic spray rounds with short intervals. Weather at flowering was favourable for Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc. Chardonnay and Riesling flowered during rain which lowered fruit set and yield. Warm dry conditions in January and February slowed vegetative growth and ripened fruit. Settled conditions in March allowed an early start to harvest where hand harvested fruit was ripe and clean with low disease pressure and optimal ripeness. Mid way through harvest we closed our restaurant and the entire Black Estate team was able to work together to ensure our harvest was completed successfully. Thanks to them we were able to harvest some of the highest quality fruit ever seen at Black Estate.