As predicted in our Summer edition, this looks like it will turn out to be an excellent Margaret River vintage for most varieties. Although we still have a few weeks to go before all the red grapes come in, our fingers are crossed.

Due to the cooler ripening season the emphasis seems to be more on quality than quantity. For example, a number of wineries reported their Pinot crop to be considerably down on previous years, but the quality of fruit to be outstanding.

The picking of the classic red varieties was something of a protracted affair with the cooler conditions pushing the harvest back into late March and early April. Nevertheless robust character is intact and the general quality of fruit was very good indeed, with deep intensity across the region.