Vintage 2020 – the time of Coronavirus
2020 was a vintage we will not forget. With troublesome weather from the start, we finished a late harvest grateful for what we received: small, delicate bunches offering complex ripe flavours, which were thankfully free of smoke-taint.
A year such as this required a very patient and careful approach to picking the battle-worn fruit. With the recent shutdown of the local restaurant industry, an eye for detail was available in abundance. Chefs, waiters and sommeliers from some of the region’s top restaurants were employed as our picking crew, and on the 6th of April, vintage commenced.
Social distancing measures in place, the usual chatter between pickers was replaced with the sound of quiet snipping, occasionally broken by the rumble of the tractor or a bark from Archie. The care taken in this harvest was exceptional and the quality of our 2020 wines will be testament to this group of pickers.
This conservative fruit selection meant yields took a further battering; just 6 barrels of Chardonnay and 8 barrels of Pinot Noir were produced. Early signs show that these decisions have been rewarded, with the Chardonnay showing vibrancy, and the Pinot Noirs complexity and concentration drawn from those tiny berries.
From a family perspective, the reality of the pandemic hit us when we closed the cellar door in late March. In the hiatus before vintage commenced, we suddenly had the luxury of more time to spend on overdue tasks around the property. We acknowledge we are privileged in many ways. The grape and wine sector is recognised as an essential industry which has allowed us to assemble a crew for vintage and make wine. We live in a beautiful and healthy place with plenty of work and space to keep us occupied over winter. Pruning is not too far off, and projects are underway to upgrade our cellar door guest experience when we eventually re-open.
Main Ridge Estate will however be very quiet without our beloved cellar-door guests and local community visiting. We really look forward to welcoming you back one day in the months ahead!
Cheers,
James Sexton
Winemaker
Recent reviews – 2018 vintage
How to Buy Our Wine
Direct: call Libby on 033 5989 2686 or email libby@mre.com.au
Online: at https://mre.com.au/buy-wine/
We are offering FREE DELIVERY of wine within Australia during the time of the COVID 19 Pandemic.
With our best wishes. Be safe, and keep well!
The Sextons