in the vineyard : Soil: Low-vigour, stony, clay-rich, shale-derived soil.
The low yielding 2003 harvest delivered only 23 hl/ha of Chardonnay. The grapes were beautiful, benefiting not only from the tiny yield, but from one of our longest recent hang-times as well. December was a little warmer and drier than our ten year average (good for the Christmas holidays and great for the prevention of vine disease!) while the remaining months to harvest were cooler than average and generally drier, with the exception of fairly heavy March rains, luckily just post harvest.