2004 Vintage

Not currently available.

2003 Vintage

• The drought conditions ensured low yields and concentrated flavours.
• The dry weather before and after the late February rain meant that the vines recovered quickly with no disease pressure.
• Rosemount Estate Roxburgh vineyard was the standout, producing balanced, intensely flavoured fruit.

The upper Hunter Valley experienced the dry conditions that were common to many Australian winegrowing regions throughout the winter, spring and early summer of the 2003 vintage. Low crop levels, due to reduced bunch numbers and bunch sizes, meant that the vines in general were able to ripen their fruit without stress. Rosemount Estate winemaker, Andrew Koerner reported, "Whilst it lowered yields, the drought had a positive effect on quality in 2003 and we’ll see an increased concentration in the wines."

The drought conditions and absence of really hot weather meant that established vineyards, such as Roxburgh, maintained good soil moisture levels and thrived, producing well-balanced, intensely flavoured wines."

The rain that swept across Australia in mid to late February did fall in the Hunter Valley but the dry conditions before and after the rain meant that there was no disease pressure and the vines recovered quickly. With no further threat of rain the Regional Vineyard Manager, Sam Haynes, and his team were able to harvest the fruit at peak ripeness and baumé levels. Vintage began almost two weeks earlier than normal, with the first Hunter Valley fruit entering the winery on the 14th of January.

The rich terra rossa soils of the Rosemount Estate Roxburgh vineyard enabled it to handle the dry conditions with ease, maintaining good soil moisture levels throughout the growing season. Whilst the season was extremely dry, temperatures remained moderate, assisting the mature vines in producing fruit that retained excellent acidity resulting in perfectly balanced wines. The 2003 Rosemount Estate Roxburgh Chardonnay will be a highlight with bright fruit and intense flavours and Rosemount Estate Show Reserve Chardonnay will again also benefit from an outstanding Roxburgh component.

2002 Vintage

The 2002 Vintage was very strong despite late vintage rains. Chardonnay and Semillon showed great depth of flavour, particularly fruit from Giant's Creek and Roxburgh.

"An excellent year for the Hunter Valley, with the defining characteristics of the 2002 white wines being their refined nature and excellent aromatics" - Andrew Koerner - Rosemount Winemaker.

Cool temperatures, so prevalent throughout much of South Eastern Australia, were less of a defining factor in the Hunter Valley. Conditions were somewhat difficult early in the vintage with high temperatures and heavy rains around the time of veraison. These conditions quickly improved and resulted in a generally trouble free ripening period with harvest occurring right on time in early February.Harvest was disrupted somewhat by late vintage rains.

These rains however demonstrated the quality of Rosemount's well-established vineyards, which handled the conditions with ease and resulted in a pause in harvesting for only a few days.

Indeed, the Giants Creek vineyard, due to its sandy, well draining soils was almost unaffected by the rains and hand-picking was able to continue throughout this time. Overall the vintage was very strong with excellent results. Chardonnay and the Semillon picked before the rains show great depth of flavour.

In general, the wines have excellent natural acidity and are markedly more aromatic, due in no small part to the cooler nature of the season in the run up to harvest.Rosemount's Andrew Koerner reports that vintage quality was outstanding with the fruit from the Roxburgh and Giant's Creek vineyards providing the highlight.

The Giants Creek vineyard was exceptional with low yields and greatly increased hand-picking combining to produce a crop withdistinct varietal characters and real intensity of flavour. Semillon volumes were down, however the fruit was of a very high quality, which will result in a 2002 Show Reserve Semillon with outstanding aromatics and extended ageing potential.

2001 Vintage

Spring rain was very good - indeed the Hunter River was in flood during November - and there was very strong vine growth early on and a very hot spell in January brought ripening forward. The Upper Hunter escaped most of the vintage rain allowing for vintage to be conducted in good conditions with consistent results.

Semillons will be very good with ripe, lemony flavours. With chardonnays, Rosemount's Andrew Koerner reports that the Giants Creek Vineyard was exceptional, so Rosemount's Show Reserve Chardonnay is superb. There are some very good parcels from the Roxburgh Vineyard as well.

2000 Vintage

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

1999 Vintage

Good rain throughout early Spring served to replenish the ground moisture levels for the growing season ahead. Spring and Summer were mainly dry enabling healthy vine growth and berry development.

The bulk of the fruit was hand picked in early February, before the autumn rains, and displays powerful fruit flavours with good balancing acidity giving elegance and structure.

1998 Vintage

Warm, Dry conditions in November and December enabled favourable healthy vine growth and berry development. The upper Hunter experienced more favourable ripening conditions than the coastal affected vineyards down the Valley, where rainfall was substantially heavier in the critical months before harvest.

The favourable weather conditions allowed fruit to be hand harvested in early February, showing great elegance and tremendous definition of varietal flavour.

1997 Vintage

The 1997 season began with good rainfall levels through spring, soaking the ground and facilitating an even vine development through budburst and early spring growth. A mild summer followed with some late rainfall leading into the final ripening phase.

The ideal aspect and drainage of the Roxburgh and Giants creek vineyards enabled the vines to dry and fruit to be harvested in near perfect condition. The fruit harvested showed an excellent balance of natural acidity and typically rich concentrated fruit flavours.

1996 Vintage

The 1996 growing season saw the welcome end to the drought conditions of the three previous vintages. The vines responded well to plentiful light rain throughout spring and early summer, giving them a chance to draw nutrients and develop well in the early growth phase.

A warm and trouble free vintage followed with the fruit harvested in early February showed exceptional natural balance between sugar, acidity and flavour.

1995 Vintage

The 1995 growing season was the 3rd year in which drought conditions throughout much of Australia exerted a profound effect on vineyards. A mild start to the season provided some ground water but as the summer drew on, irrigation from the Hunter River became progressively more necessary.

Ultimately fine autumn weather allowed fruit with intense varietal definition to be harvested at the end of the second week in February.

1994 Vintage

Following on from 1993, the 1994 vintage was unusually dry resulting in low yields of intensely concentrated fruit. A mild spring and summer was followed by a hot January and an unseasonably cool February.

Favourable weather at vintage allowed fruit with exceptional balance and elegant flavour to be harvested in good condition in mid-February.

1993 Vintage

The 1993 season was almost perfect, with a cool dry spring extending into the early summer and occasional rainfall keeping the vines refreshed and fully active. Fruit set and bud burst was excellent and careful vineyard management ensured low yields.

A warm spell in mid-January allowed the fruit to develop a final depth and complexity in time for the slightly late harvest in early March.