The Vintage Report | 2025

BY CHIEF VITICULTURIST BART MOLONY & CHIEF WINEMAKER VIRGINIA WILLCOCK

A moderate season of patience and precision. As with all Margaret River vintages, the influence of spring was paramount in shaping the season. After a delayed onset, winter rains finished strongly, with August recording the highest rainfall on record. Spring precipitation tapered off, with September receiving well-below average rainfall, and drier conditions continued to summer. Growing season temperatures were on average, providing healthy conditions, aligning closely with those of 2021 and 2022. The season’s rhythm was marked by alternating cycles of warm, sunny days followed by cooler, sometimes overcast conditions.

The impact of the previous vintage’s early and dry conditions was evident, particularly in vine responses. Some vines showed uneven growth and a reduced capacity for vigour. Chardonnay, in particular, demonstrated signs of confusion due to the prior season’s early and dry conditions, with many vines experiencing an initial burst of growth before pausing. This led to an extended development phase, pushing veraison into mid to late January, interestingly, aligning with Cabernet.

Harvest commenced on 6 February, beginning with some earlier ripening and evenly cropped Chardonnay. The picking period extended over four weeks from Carbunup to Wallcliffe, with the most critical and intricate harvesting decisions concentrated in the middle and final two weeks of February, when we harvested the core of our premier and icon Chardonnay. Precision was key, as patience allowed the fruit to achieve balance in flavour, acidity, and sugar. Chardonnay was in exceptional condition.

Sauvignon Blanc thrived, benefiting from well-structured canopies and steady ripening, which contributed to excellent flavour development. Semillon also delivered an impressive crop, ripening evenly in moderate conditions during the tail end of the white harvest. From 6 February to 13 March, during the entire white harvest, only 10mm of intermittent rainfall was recorded.

This year’s hand-harvest window was notably shorter, spanning just 17 days, compared to 23 days in 2024 and 24 days in 2023. Wilyabrup experienced a later start, while Karridale’s harvest extended across the entire window. From February to 13 March, only intermittent drizzle occurred, below the long term average.

The red harvest commenced on 11 March with Merlot, followed closely by small parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Leading into the red harvest, conditions were ideal – classic autumnal weather with cool nights and warm, sunny days. A brief interruption to harvest occurred on 13-14 March from a rain event, and fortunately, only 14-18mm fell across the vineyards. From mid-March onwards, the season settled into consistently warm and dry conditions, with the last week of March shaping up to be one of the warmest in decades. This created an ideal environment for the final stages of ripening and handpicking our premier and icon Cabernet.

With a beautifully moderate growing season and careful patience exercised in harvest timing, the 2025 vintage is emerging as a vintage of precision and promise.