2004 Vintage

Not currently available.

2003 Vintage

• Coonawarra enjoyed well-timed rainfall and moderate temperatures.
• An extended ripening period promoted flavour development and acid retention.
• Cool conditions very early in the vintage meant that yields were reduced.

Coonawarra experienced an excellent vintage in 2003, receiving rainfall at the right time during the growing season and benefiting from moderate temperatures. In contrast to many other regions, Coonawarra had a 5% higher rainfall than last year, much of it occurring on single days in the last weeks of January, February and March. Each rainfall invigorated the vines and maintained canopy health. Mild temperatures throughout February and March allowed the fruit to develop good flavours whilst retaining acid before warmer temperatures in the critical ripening month of April ensured a successful vintage.

Regional Vineyard Manager, Allen Jenkins reported, "The coldest temperatures for over 30 years in November and December of 2001 when buds are formed for the following season meant that bunch numbers and size were destined to be low for the 2003 vintage. During pruning the vineyard team deliberately increased the number of buds on the vines but the small bunches meant that yields were still reduced."

Yields were certainly up from the 2002 vintage and the consistent conditions in the 2003 vintage meant that ripening was very even, with harvest starting on time and finishing in company vineyards by the 28th of April.

Rosemount Estate’s ‘Cluny’ Block, planted in 1997, did very well, ripening early, and will provide an outstanding component for the Rosemount Estate Show Reserve Cabernet, complementing fruit from the traditional source, the 21 year old ‘Kirri Billi’ vineyard.

2002 Vintage

The spring of 2001 and the summer of 01/02 was one of the coldest in recent history with the dry, cool and occasionally windy conditions resulting in very low yields. The small crop was partially caused by climatic factors and partially by a conscious decision to reduce yields in many vineyards in Coonawarra.

The decision to lower yields was fortuitous with careful canopy management and the lower yields allowing the crop to ripen perfectly and produce high quality fruit that might otherwise have proved difficult in the ?02 conditions. Parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon with incredible fruit intensity, lifted fragrant violet aromas and silky tannins will ensure an excellent 2002 Rosemount Show Reserve Cabernet.

2001 Vintage

Good winter rains gave Coonawarra a very good start to the season. Fruit set was excellent across all varieties, and careful vineyard management including removing heavy crops aided in controlling yields. March rainfall delayed the harvest, but April and May were fine and mild and the fruit was picked in good condition.

Cabernet Sauvignon fared well, particularly off the lower-cropped vineyards such as Kirri Billi, with excellent colour and tannin levels. The resulting wines will be soft and varietal with ripe berry flavours.

2000 Vintage

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

1999 Vintage

A dry winter was relieved by spring rains in early September that an even fruit set and good soil moisture levels in the critical spring growth period. Summer temperatures across South Australia were very warm, although the Coonawarras cooler southerly location helped alleviate this.

The warm, dry conditions continued into autumn causing some stress in younger wines but the deep rooted, mature vines of Rosemount's Kirri Billi vineyard handled the conditions well. Light rains in early March delayed the vintage slightly until harvest was conducted over five days in late April.

1998 Vintage

The 1998 vintage started with mild conditions in early spring. This allowed for even wine development through to fruit set and an abundant canopy. The consistently warm and dry summer weather was followed by similar conditions in autumn. Rosemount's established vineyards handled the conditions well although yields were reduced slightly.

Careful hand pruning and canopy management further concentrated the berries flavours and ripeness before harvest in early May. The low yields, ripe tannins and concentrated berry flavours have resulted in fruit of amazing intensity and structure. A classic Coonawarra vintage producing wines with extremely high potential and long cellaring future.

1997 Vintage

The 1997 season presented many challenges to viticulturists in Coonawarra, who experienced the same cool start as the rest of South Australia, followed by prolonged heat wave conditions in February. Initial concerns of achieving full ripeness, due to the earlier cool conditions and the Southerly location of the region, were overcome by good vine management and vineyard practice.

Careful hand pruning enabled the grapes of our 15 year old Kirri Billi vines to reach full maturiyy in late April. Yields were down on the previous vintage, reflecting the dry summer conditions, but the fruit displayed superb quality and concentration of fruit flavour.

1996 Vintage

The 1996 vintage started with a cool spring, which extended well into summer. Whilst fruit set was even and the vines were in good condition the cooler temperatures restricted yields. Showers in autumn delayed harvest until April where fine conditions enabled the crop to fully ripen, delivering fully ripe fruit at a cropping level of around three tonnes to the acre.

The combination of low yields and the long, slow ripening period meant that the resulting fruit was of incredible intensity and structure, promising classic wines with great cellaring potential.

1995 Vintage

The 1995 Vintage was by all accounts a difficult vintage, which presented growers with cool and sometimes wet growing conditions through summer, followed by a cool autumn. The well-established Kirri Billi vineyard, where the majority of the fruit for the Show Reserve Cabernet was sourced, was able to handle the conditions well and produce ripe fruit in late March/early April.

The cool nature of the vintage has produced structured wines with elegant flavours and firm tannins. Whilst somewhat lighter in fruit weight than riper years these wines will age well and show excellent varietal characters.

1994 Vintage

The 1994 vintage started with ideal growing conditions in spring and early summer that resulted in even fruit set and vigorous vines. Summer finished early and an uncharacteristically cool autumn extended the growing season before a late burst of warm weather finally ripened the fruit.

Vintage was conducted over three weeks in early April in good conditions. The long, cool ripening period resulted in wines with great depth of flavour, excellent structure and fine-grained tannins.

1993 Vintage

Winter rains ensured good soil moisture levels for the critical spring growing phase. The vines were in excellent condition and bud burst and fruit set trouble free. A cool but dry summer meant that fruit flavours and colour were allowed to build up slowly before warm February conditions fully ripened the fruit.

Harvest was delayed slightly by the cool summer conditions and resulted in fruit with clearly defined varietal characters and well balance flavours.