Odyssey News

Harvest Newsletter 2010

The last of the grapes from the 2010 harvest will be harvested on Tuesday night, we harvest at night to keep the grapes cool and fresh to retain aromatics. When picking the Sauvignon Blanc we are looking for crisp, fresh fruit flavours and need the acid to be at decent levels. Flavours are a critical factor in the decision and for our Sauvignon Blanc on the clay soils it’s a clear transition from relatively muted bean, asparagus flavour onto more radiant passionfruit and uplifted tropical characters. When we reach this stage we then look at the weather and so with some fronts approaching early next week we will pick on Tuesday. Having rain to mess up the beautiful acid balance would be a pity.

The Pinot Noirs were harvested over a couple of weeks with each clone/root stock ripening at slightly different times. They are now resting on skins post ferment for a week or so. Tasting will determine when they are pressed off. Extraction of tannins and flavour profile being the main determinants here.

The Iliad Chardonnay is still fermenting away, the wild yeast component anyway, the inoculated portion is long finished.

The Pinot Gris is now pressed and fermenting away in tank, this will be run off into older barrels toward the end of ferment. We do not want obvious oak flavour in our Gris just the added weight and creamy texture that aging on yeast lees in barrel gives.

All in all a promising vintage 2010 with very favourable weather conditions throughout the entire harvest.

Will be in touch post harvest.

Cheers,