Shiraz Viognier 2016

An El Niño year: It was dry but not desperately so with occasional bursts of rain keeping canopies and pastures green.

The heat began to build through January and 90mm of rain over the last week of January proved to be a blessing, given the six weeks of dry hot weather (mid 30s) that followed.

The first Shiraz was picked three weeks before average on the leap year date of February 29.

Yields were higher than average, requiring some late manoeuvring to find extra barrels to house the vintage.