Wrapping up the 2024 vintage for Saints Collective Wine, we encountered a range of weather patterns that left their mark on this year's harvest. Winter rainfall initially provided essential moisture for the vines after harvest, but it tapered off towards the end of the season. Despite the unusual weather during spring, which included clear skies and sudden storms, the new year brought more typical Rutherglen conditions with warm, clear days leading up to and during harvest.
Reflecting on the 2024 harvest at All Saints Estate, our team meticulously picked a diverse selection of Estate grapes, including Riesling, Chardonnay, and Marsanne. These grapes underwent careful harvesting techniques, ensuring only the highest quality made their way to the winery. As the vintage progressed, the handpicking of Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault for our Limited Range GSM, along with the meticulous pressing of Merlot, filled the cellar. Standout varieties for the vintage include Marsanne and Riesling for whites and Shiraz and Grenache for reds. Muscat has also shown promising results, with high baumés attributed to the dry conditions. The moderate temperatures throughout the season have helped retain natural acidity and build flavour, contributing to what promises to be a high-quality vintage.
Over at St Leonards Vineyard, our site known for its sandy soils and lifted aromatics, Lumiére (Semillon), Chardonnay, as well as Marsanne and Muscat grapes for our 2024 Pilot Project Marsie, showed beautifully. Elegant Cabernet Franc also shone brilliantly. We also selected the finest Shiraz grapes for the iconic Wahgunyah Shiraz. Further into Rutherglen, at Mount Ophir Estate, careful handpicking of Shiraz grapes from our unique historic red-clay loam site has set the stage for an exceptional vintage Shiraz aged in our finest barrels.
Overall, the 2024 vintage has shown promise, with moderate yields and exceptional quality across our region. The wines reflect the dedication of our team and the unique characteristics of each vineyard site. We look forward to sharing them with you.
