Deux Frères Wines Harvest Report 2024

17 July 2024

At the beginning of the previous growing season, we grafted our block of Shiraz to Cabernet Franc as an added component to the Tribute blend. I am happy to report that 95% of the grafting turned out positive and the amount of growth this year amazed everybody. This winter we will be pruning the block for its first harvest next season – 2025!

With the weather again stretching our decision making skills we are happy to say that the quality level of all the wines were very good. The winter was a good one with all the irrigation dams filling to capacity. Spring was lovely and cool with rain at certain times but not affecting the health of the grapes with mildew.

From middle of November the rain stopped and the temperature started to climb with many heat waves. We were forced to irrigate for short stints every 10 days to keep moisture in the top 20cm of the soil.

Yields were down with all the red varieties registering an approximate 20% drop but the Sauvignon Blanc did well with all the hard work paying off. This vineyard is now 38 years and does not get irrigated. The pruning and soil management is of crucial importance and we are very happy with the 5 ton per hectare yield in a generally tough year.

In the cellar it was the vintage that we experimented the most across the board yet. From using wild yeast or new cultivated yeast strains, different fermentation temperatures on some wines, or different capabilities new equipment gave us, the outcomes were sensational and amazed all of us. We have also introduced barrels from two new coopers in our maturation cellar.

We are extremely excited to taste the final product. Apart from the small, or should I say “light” harvest we had, the vintage will be a spectacular one once bottled. The Sauvignon Blanc is already bottled, and this is one of the best I have ever made in my career as vintner. The reds are all finished with malolactic fermentation and show really appealing flavours from early on in aging.