The Vintages

2008
While conditions were an improvement over the very difficult year we experienced in 2007 water availability continued to present as a major challenge. However the actual growing conditions during January and February were very good for producing a harvest full of promise. Both the chardonnay and pinot noir enjoyed the warm burst in late February / early March. The wines look very promising.

2007
This has been an incredibly tough year highlighted by drought conditions and heavy hailstorms on Christmas Day. Overall yields are down 60% on 2006. The quality of the fruit we managed to harvest is excellent and the wines have received excellent response from the market place.

2006
For the fourth year in a row the quality of both the chardonnay and pinot noir grapes has been very good to excellent. This is a great vintage.
The harvest was earlier than previous years with excellent Autumn weather following initially a hot summer that cooled down during January.
The low rainfall and mild conditions have combined to make this year one we will remember as we enjoy the great wines to follow.

2005
2005 turned out to be a great year for the wines produced at Prancing Horse. Initial concerns following a very wet winter were replaced by good conditions for flowering and fruit set. Medium sized crops with excellent intensity and length were produced. The chardonnay quality continues to improve and greater depth and length is already apparent in the pinot noir.

2004
The 2004 vintage was a good season for both the chardonnay and pinot noir but carrying higher crop levels (at around normal levels) for chardonnay. This was our first pinot noir production after overhauling the trellis system.

2003
The 2003 vintage was a good season for both the chardonnay and pinot noir in the area. A normal spring and mild autumn provided ideal growing conditions. Chardonnay fruit yield was still below normal levels reflecting the impact of adverse spring conditions of the previous vintage.