Vintage Wrap Up
18th May 2010
The Katnook Estate vintage for 2010 finished in mid April, one of the earliest seasons we have experienced. Katnook Estate senior winemaker, Wayne Stehbens says that the 2010 vintage is shaping up to be one of the best on record – not dissimilar to the 1998 vintage.
Click here to learn more from Wayne about vintage 2010.
Yields in 2010 averaged 6.5 tonnes/hectare, just under our long term average. Good rain in late winter, spring and early summer led to healthy shoot growth, essential for developing good flavours. A heat wave in November may have reduced yield by affecting the pollination of the grape flowers, however the bunch numbers on the vines before that had already indicated a lower yielding year. Average temperatures during summer were about 1 to 1.5◦C above average and thankfully there were no periods of extremely high (or low) temperatures after the heat wave, which led to a steady, uninterrupted ripening period.
All white varieties were harvested a little earlier than usual, when flavours were optimal and natural acid high. As a result, the white wines show excellent balance and strong varietal flavours. The reds are characterised by incredibly intense colour, flavour and soft tannins – the best we have seen for some years.
This vintage also marks the start of a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Audit, to determine Katnook Estate’s carbon footprint. We have engaged The Carbon Reduction Institute to undertake this process. CRI has extensive experience in the wine industry, having worked with Cullen’s in Margaret River and De Martino in Chile. For more information, see www.noco2.com.au
