A really good vintage despite the drought. Our harvest began on Tuesday 6th March and finished on Tuesday 13th. It was our fastest and earliest vintage ever. Crop levels were about average and flavours were (surprisingly) excellent.
The vines showed no ill effects and their leaves stayed geen and functioning which is crucial to ripening and flavour development. We apply no irrigation and the season shows me that these are healthy vines with extensive root systems capable of carrying the vine through difficult seasons.
I had expected the heat to have an effect on flavour but the lively fresh flavours were evident as usual. The wines are now fermenting and I am really pleased we have survived the earliest, driest and one of the warmest seasons we have encountered with such good grapes.
We have continued to receive good reviews for our wines. Here are a couple of the recent ones.
Best Cellars – Huon Hooke.
Good Weekend Magazine. March 17 2007.
Adelaide Hills Sauvlgnon Blanc – Geoff Weaver 2006, $24
The Adelaide Hills region is arguably our best source of sauvignon blanc, in a quite different style to New Zealarnd's Marlborough.
It's less herbaceous and pungent, with riper gooseberry to tropical fruit aromas and, at least, in Geoff Weaver's case, a deeper and more structured palate with better fullness and persistence.
It also tends to age better, resisting the degeneration into asparagus cooking-water that you're likely to find if you keep Kiwi savvy too long.
Weaver is a former chief winemaker of Hardy's, so he knows a thing or two about whites.
His wines are all grow on his own vineyard at Lenswood, one of the cooler parts of the hills, and are regularly among the region's highest¬ quality wines.
Drink this within two years and pair it with nicoise or caesar salad, crudites dipped in aioli, or just sip it as an aperitif. …
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The Bulletin February 20 2007
Peter Forrestal
Geoff Weaver Lenswood Sauvignon Blanc 2006
The talented and experienced Geoff Weaver makes some exhilarating wines at Lenswood in the Adelaide Hills. This has some restraint and is deliciously different: delicate floral aromas with a hint of lavender and cool, pristine white peach and lychee flavours. It’s fine, focussed and more subtle than most sauvignons as it builds in intensity in the glass. Succulent.
Atypically, this ages well.
41/2 glasses In the top rank.
Huon Hooke Sydney Morning Herald
Jan 30th 2007 Top Aussie White
GEOFF WEAVER CHARDONNAY 2005
Adelaide hills finesse, with tightness and reserve. Subtle roast hazelnut aroma, with a hint of dairy from malolactic. Tangy gooseberry and grapefruit palate, with lots of intensity and verve and it will take some age well. Now to four years.
93 points.