Vintage 2021 has been a cracker in the Barossa Valley. After a couple of vintages of trying conditions and very low yields, with both impressive quality and quantity, growers and winemakers alike have been toasting a terrific vintage.

While we were anticipating some potentially heavy rains, they didn’t eventuate as the La Nina wasn’t strong enough to make its way from the Eastern states. And summer temperatures were, thankfully, quite moderate.

So in fact, we experienced a close-to-ideal cool, dry ripening period, resulting in long, slow, even fruit development – exactly what we like to see. This extended ripening has allowed for lovely, bright fruit expression, intense colours and a wonderful balance between flavour ripeness, sugar ripeness, bright acidity and ripe tannins. And along with the quality, the vines also enjoyed healthy yields (things that don’t always go hand in hand).

2021 reds should have terrific longevity and staying power, with vibrancy and generosity of flavour, and a slinky elegance bestowed by the cooler conditions.