2025 Vintage Report – TERRE à TERRE – CRAYÈRES VINEYARD

 Autumn and Winter leading to the 2025 growing season were 40% below average, after a very dry end of summer 2024.  Above average rainfall in Spring and early summer with warmer temperatures than average promoted balanced vine development.  Some Spring frost at budburst, combined with a relatively dry soil profile meant that canopies, and yields, remained small, leading to a very high balanced crop vs canopy size with well exposed fruit during summer.

Overall, the 2025 growing season from October 2024 to April 2025 was 20% warmer and 18% drier than average.  The warmer and drier summer conditions, combined with the very balanced and open canopy, allowed us to ripen all varieties, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Cabernet Franc, to perfection.

Our Sauvignon Blanc was hand-picked over the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th of March, similar to the 2024 vintage, with excellent acidity and ripe, spicy flavours.  Because of the effect of the frost and the lower moisture content in the soil at the start of the season, we had a very balanced canopy with optimal bunch exposure, allowing for perfect ripening during the warmer and drier month of February. One third of the fruit was whole bunch pressed and is now finishing a slow fermentation in oak.  Two thirds of the fruit was crushed and destemmed before pressing and is fermenting in tank and old oak.  

Our Shiraz was hand-picked on the 11^th of March; one week earlier than 2024, 3 weeks earlier than in 2022 and 5 weeks earlier than in 2023, with average yields and ripe flavours, and very intense fruit characters. It is now finishing malolactic fermentation in tank.  It will be an excellent vintage for our Shiraz, with very expressive fruit flavours and great tannin structure.

Our Cabernet Franc was hand-picked on the 17^th of March; similar to 2024 vintage, and one month earlier than 2023, with average yields.  The quality is yet again truly exceptional for our Cabernet Franc, with strikingly ripe red berry flavours, good acid balance and great tannin profile. The Cabernet Franc is now finishing malolactic fermentation in tank and is very promising.

Our Cabernet Sauvignon was hand-picked on the 17^th and 18th of March; just a couple of days earlier than the 2024 vintage, and almost 4 weeks before 2022 and 2023 and was the earliest harvest of our Cabernet Sauvignon in the last 12 years. Due to the effect of the lower moisture in the pure terra rossa soils where the Cabernet Sauvignon is grown, berries were very small and bunches were very light, and the yields were consequently slightly lower than average. The warmer months of February and March, combined with the direct effect of close spacing on bunch exposure, had our fruit ripening to perfection. Cassis and liquorice characters were evident at harvest, like every year. The wine is now starting malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tank and will be one of our best Cabernet Sauvignon to date, on par with the 2024 vintage. 

Comparison of previous vintages in the Crayères Vineyard, Wrattonbully

Growing season (October to April) heat summation (DD) base 10°C

% of average rainfall during growing season (October to April)

Pre-Véraison (October – January) heat summation (DD) base 10°C and rainfall (mm)

Post-Véraison (February & March) heat summation (DD) base 10°C and rainfall (mm)

Heat summation was high for our Crayères Vineyard, with warmer temperatures pre-February 15% warner than average and temperatures or February and March 20% armer than average. Rainfall was below average for the growing season; on average pre-véraison and well below post-véraison.  Overall, the vintage was warm and dry, with average conditions up to January preserving freshness in our Sauvignon Blanc, and some heat after véraison, favouring very efficient ripening of the red varieties.

Harvest date per variety for the last 12 years