2004 Vintage

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2003 Vintage

• A dry winter and cool weather at flowering ensured low yields.
• Company vineyards harvested before the rains produced excellent fruit.
• The 2003 Rosemount Estate Mountain Blue Shiraz Cabernet, picked on eve of the rain, is an outstanding continuation of this famous label.

2003 was the year when Rosemount Estate's investment in a 15km pipeline and pumping station really came to fruition. Access to plentiful water resources in Mudgee, and moderate temperatures throughout the growing season, enabled the Mudgee vineyards to thrive despite the drought.

Regional Vineyard Manager, Nigel Everingham said, "The dry winter followed by cool spring temperatures ensured that fruitfulness was lower across all varieties than in previous years. The low crops and excellent ripening conditions meant that vintage started in the first week of February, almost a month earlier than usual." He said the rains that fell mid-vintage in late February ultimately decided the success of the year for individual growers in Mudgee. "Healthy vines with reasonable crop levels ripened earliest and this allowed the well-maintained company vineyards such as the Hill of Gold vineyard to be harvested before the rains and floods devastated some low-lying vineyards in the area.

Our long standing policy to restrict yields to increase quality paid dividends in 2003, with the low-yielding company vineyards producing a richly flavoured, varietally expressive crop before the rains."

The Rosemount Estate Mountain Blue vineyard provided the greatest excitement of the vintage in more ways than one. The warnings of heavy rain led to an urgent decision to pick the night before harvest was originally planned and the crews were literally just finishing as the first drops fell. During the drought the deep root systems of the 45 year old vines harboured a reservoir that enabled the vines to thrive and the 2003 Rosemount Estate Mountain Blue Shiraz Cabernet, packed with rich, berry flavours, is destined to be the highlight of the Mudgee vintage.

2002 Vintage

Fine, elegant red wines, especially Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Shiraz wines show black pepper and spice characteristics. The vintage highlight is likely to be the 2002 Rosemount Mountain Blue Shiraz Cabernet.

"2002 was an excellent vintage that demonstrated the ability of Mudgee to produce red wines of the highest quality with clear varietal and regional characteristics, a profound depth of flavour and ripe tannins" - Andrew Koerner - Rosemount Winemaker.

The 2002 Mudgee vintage was excellent and demonstrated the outstanding potential of this region. Following a warm and dry summer, autumn rains gave a welcome boost to the vines and provided an ideal run-in to harvest. Overall the vintage was outstanding for red wines with excellent results for both Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The quality of the Rosemount vineyards was again proven with the well-maintained, low yielding vines ripening early. The Cumbandry vineyard did particularly well with the four to six year old vines reaching full maturity and producing high quality fruit for the Rosemount Diamond premium varietal and Hill of Gold ranges.

Shiraz was very aromatic, showing lots of black pepper and spice characters. The wines will combine outstanding finesse with great intensity of flavour and wonderful soft, ripe tannins.

The best Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were picked early in the vintage and showed excellent varietal definition and ripe flavours. The resultant wines display a range of dark berry flavours, cassis and 'Mudgee Mint'.

The highlight from the vintage is destined to be the 2002 Rosemount Mountain Blue Shiraz Cabernet. Considered by Andrew Koerner as an equal of the great ?96, this wine is already displaying intense blackberry, mint, ginger and spice flavours, a perfect balance and what is sure to be a long cellaring future.

2001 Vintage

2001 brought Mudgee the third challenging vintage in a row. The area received quite heavy rains throughout the growing season that led to difficulties in lower lying vineyards. The well-situated Rosemount vineyards handled the conditions well producing high quality, varietally expressive fruit.

Whites are attractive, and Chardonnay is probably the best, with good, delicate flavours. Vineyards that were well managed and ripened early did well, and Rosemount has some excellent Shiraz for Mountain Blue. Andrew Koerner says that Hill of Gold has made a welcome return to the quality and volume of the 1999 vintage, particularly with Shiraz, which is "soft and elegant".

2000 Vintage

Contrasting with the Hunter Valley, the 2000 Mudgee vintage was far from easy. Mild conditions and frequent rain showers throughout spring and early summer led to high growth which needed managing in order to ensure the canopies were kept open. The traditionally sunny weather of late summer and autumn did materialise and hold through until the middle of the second week in March, meaning the Chardonnay fruit for Hill of Gold was picked in excellent condition and presents an exciting follow-on to the established style of the 1999 release.

Substantial and frequent rains then set in and Rosemount's long experience in dealing with vintage rains in the Hunter Valley became an invaluable resource. Our viticultural teams found themselves working overtime to first pull in ripe Shiraz and then wait as a break in the rains allowed the Cabernet also to reach ripeness.

Vigorous crop selection meant that, whilst volumes were lower, the finished wines were of high quality. Winemaker Philip Shaw backed this up: "Mountain Blue is amazing. At first I was unsure about what to expect but what's come through the ferment and is now maturing in barrel is probably one of the top wines of the vintage. Hill of Gold has lovely bright fruit and lots of depth."

1999 Vintage

An even budburst rolled out through good spring conditions with even flowering and fruit set. The region then endured high rainfall throughout an otherwise cool summer that demanded strong viticultural management to bring the red grapes to full ripeness.

The grapes were harvested a few days earlier than usual to avoid the risks of further inclement weather, resulting in more elegant wines yet with great depth of flavour.

1998 Vintage

Favourable spring conditions enabled an even fruit set and good vine growth. Dry conditions throughout summer meant that careful vineyard management and judicious irrigation was needed on the younger vines to avoid undue stress.

The deeper root systems of the 35 year-old Mountain Blue vineyard allowed these vines to withstand the conditions better and indeed the dry conditions ensured an intense flavoured yield. There was some relief in early autumn before vintage was conducted in good conditions. An excellent year with rich, ripe wines that are approachable early but with a great cellaring future.

1997 Vintage

The weather conditions in spring and early summer were mild and warm, only interrupted by a spell of high temperatures in early November. Rain showers throughout summer ensured ground moisture remained high before warm weather in January fully ripened the fruit.

The resulting wines were ideally balanced and showing clear varietal definition. The low yielding Mountain Blue vineyard produced especially impressive fruit of great intensity.

1996 Vintage

The 1996 vintage saw a welcome respite from the dry conditions of the previous two vintages. Through out spring and early summer light rains gave the vines the necessary boost to develop well in the crucial early growth phase.

Consequently, the Mountain Blue vineyard saw the cropping levels rise to around 2 tonnes per acre, still extremely low but directly responsible for the intensity and structure of this wine. A late burst of summer heat allowed the fruit to fully ripen and vintage was conducted without undue threat from rain.

1995 Vintage

The dry weather that characterised the 1994 season manifested itself again throughout the 1995 vintage. The unirrigated red clay loam Mountain Blue vineyard was able to survive the conditions without assistance due to an extremely deep root system although yields were cut to a mere half tonne per acre.

Vintage occurred in late march amongst fine conditions with the tiny crop producing amazingly concentrated fruit flavours.

1994 Vintage

The 1994 vintage was the first of two dry years in Mudgee, with a slightly cool spring giving way to a warm summer. The well established, and deep rooted, Mountain Blue vineyard was able to handle the conditions well, although yields were significantly reduced. The dry conditions held and were finally welcomed around harvest when they enabled a trouble free vintage.

1993 Vintage

Sorry, there is no vintage guide available for this year.