The average winter rainfall this season was a welcome relief after 2003’s fourth-worst drought in history. A relatively frost-free, wet warm and thundery spring followed, creating a natural ‘greenhouse’ effect. The vines grew vigorously, flowered and in general set a large crop. December was the hottest for 10 years, however at the start of 2004 the weather became mild and windy and the vines thrived under virtually no heat stress. At the start of February searing heat caused sunburn and significant crop losses. New records were broken with South Australia experiencing its hottest day ever. Fortunately March returned the region to glorious sunny days and cold dewy nights, with a couple of minor rain events, allowing the fruit to ripen under near perfect conditions.

The nose is concentrated and complex, with sweet lifted ripe aromas of spicy blackberries, blueberries and prunes, with hints of chocolate, anise and tar.

The palate is sweet, ripe and lush, concentrated and complex, with intense blackberry fruits, plum, anise, cedar and tar. The texture is fleshy with silky layered tannins, excellent balance and great length.

Very deep crimson in colour.

Veal albondigas with white beans.

The vintage was almost as late as 2002 with good yields and excellent fruit quality.

***Stelvin cap***: Bottled under a Stelvin screw cap to capture the freshness and keeping qualities of chardonnay and to protect its purity from cork- influenced off characters.