The Vintage Report | 2024
BY CHIEF VITICULTURIST BART MOLONY & CHIEF WINEMAKER VIRGINIA WILLCOCK
The 2024 vintage in Margaret River will be remembered for its unprecedented early start and rapid pace. Growing Degree Days data indicated from the outset that this vintage would be early, with vines showing health and vigour in spring. Despite initial disbelief, harvest began on 17 January and progressed quickly, with the last of the vines picked on 13 March. This has been a truly remarkable vintage, even with the early start and very warm, consistent conditions, the quality of the fruit is excellent and beyond our expectations.
The vines experienced an accumulation of incredible growing conditions, starting with an early onset to spring which then merged almost directly into summer. Unlike recent years, where spring was often cooler, 2023 was the warmest spring we can remember, with below-average rainfall. Due to this, we experienced early flowering and veraison. The summer was characterised by zero rainfall and sustained warmth, but with no extremes, ensuring the majority of the fruit ripened without damage.
Harvest commenced in mid-January, much earlier than anticipated, with our Wilyabrup Chardonnay. The Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc were highlights of the white harvest, showcasing ideal balance and flavour. Careful timing and precision in harvesting were critical to balance logistics and to ensure all fruit was picked at its optimal ripeness. Yields were slightly lower for our Sauvignon Blanc due to a small amount of sunburn early in its development.
Following the white harvest, we commenced picking the reds the very next day, starting with Shiraz from our northern vineyards. The warm conditions persisted, leading once again to an earlier-than-expected harvest for Cabernet Sauvignon, four weeks earlier than average. The Cabernet fruit is showing beautifully ripe fruit flavours, firm tannins, and great balance.
The red yields were also slightly lower, particularly from vines grown on harder soils with lower moisture retention, which struggled to access sufficient water. However, vine health remained excellent, right through to harvest, with no signs of deterioration. This can be attributed to the resilience of the vines, an earlier harvest and meticulous vineyard practices.
This year the Marri blossom was phenomenal. Nobody we’ve spoken to in the district has ever seen the trees flower as prolifically as they did. The blossom was extraordinary and the smell of honey in the air was quite incredible. This, of course, was great for our vines, keeping bird pressure to almost zero, as the birds favour the nectar of the Marri blossom over the grapes. This abundance also made harvesting our Cane Cut Semillon a more pleasant task as the bees and wasps were nowhere to be seen.
As harvest comes to an end, we are still in shock that it is only the second week of March, it is just so surreal. The 2024 vintage in Margaret River will certainly be one to remember. The early start and rapid pace challenged our viticulturists and winemakers, however a persistent and intense harvest schedule and rigorous attention to detail resulted in wine of astonishing quality. The resilience of the vines in the face of such extraordinary conditions is a testament to the Region’s viticultural prowess.
