Vintage 2005 was early, warm, quick, fantastic quality with good yields - and exhausting. Above average winter rains led into a beautiful spring, with some early November frosts but good flowering weather in late November and early December. Summer was wet and wild, with an amazing roller-coaster of weekly thunderstorms that helped maintain good subsoil moisture. Rains in January were followed by a dry February, and the dry weather continued right through the autumn. Warmer than usual autumnal weather caused an early, compact harvest of above average yields.

Sweet, fragrant grassy, clover blossom, lemon and apples with a hint of lanolin.

The palate is rich, full and grassy with excellent texture and a long, crisp finish.

Green gold in colour.

25% aged on lees for 6 months in seasoned 225L French barriques. Remainder aged on lees in tank for complexity without any obvious oak character and blended prior to bottling.

The late Indian summer lasted into May, well after all the fruit was harvested, at maturity figures, flavour and colour not seen before the 2002 vintage. The quality of the 2005 vintage is sure to be ranked as one of the best on record, after 2002, with all varieties showing strongly. Once again the signature varieties for Eden Valley performed brilliantly.