By James Atkinson
Early wine ferments indicate New Zealand's Marlborough region will deliver wines of exceptional quality for vintage 2012, according to the region's mainstay producer, Brancott Estate.
While the cool wet conditions during flowering and fruitset led to a lighter vintage, the mild April weather, with low rain levels and blue skies, gave the fruit the best possible ripening conditions, the winemaker said.
Patrick Materman, chief winemaker for Brancott Estate said the 2012 vintage is without a doubt one of the finest Marlborough has ever experienced.
"A late, cool flowering period delivered significantly reduced crop levels, and this in turn has led to wines of great concentration and varietal expression," he said.
"Although the growing season has been the coolest experienced since the early 1990s, very few rain events, clear blue skies and lighter crops have meant optimum ripeness and flavour development has been achieved across all varieties."
Brancott Estate vineyards