2000 Vintage Report
By John Simes, Winemaker
2000 Vintage Report
By John Simes, Winemaker
Bud burst was earlier than in 1999, suggesting a good year may be in store. However, cool, unsettled conditions in June had everyone prepare for a very late harvest. A dry August with good sunshine saved the season. But, it wouldn’t be the Okanagan if we didn’t get at least a fright or two late in the season. The end of September heralded a period of significantly below average temperatures, occasionally dipping below zero. Luckily the impact on overall quality was slight and October brought with it great autumn weather, rewarding us for hanging on.
The 2000 Harvest:
Harvest began under sunny skies on September 21st and the last parcel of Cabernet was crushed on October 27th, but the 2000 vintage wasn’t complete until the night of December 10th when we harvested Chardonnay for icewine under a full moon in temperatures of -15° centigrade.
The Mission Hill Family Estate vineyards that were planted in 1996 and 1997 are approaching full maturity. Crop levels and overall vine balance were in excellent shape in 2000. In order to cultivate the highest quality crop, shoot and cluster thinning was carried out after flowering to ensure moderate potential crop levels. This combined with the settled and generally warm weather that occurred from early October on, allowed a long hang time in many vineyards and resulted in some very high brix levels, particularly with the red grapes. Sugar levels of over 24 brix, and deep full-coloured skins have resulted in some big and exciting reds. With the white grapes, the lack of any period of real intense heat has given the wines a delicacy and freshness. The 2000 reds are expected to be dark and full-bodied with rich complexity. Over all, the expectation is that 2000 wines will be high quality.
