With the South West of Western Australia being in a drought for the last two years or more, irrigation management of the vines was always going to be an important criteria determining the success or otherwise of the vintage. After much agonising we commenced our irrigation program three weeks earlier than normal. It turned out to be a very wise decision as the summer turned on some uncharacteristically hot weather and climatic stresses on the vines were at times quite severe. The health of the vines and their leaves at Voyager Estate remained outstanding. These are the years when it is great to have irrigation available and managed according to the conditions.

Our crop-thinning program began in earnest after the New Years day holiday. Voyager Estate crop-thinned approximately 80% of the vineyard to varying levels. Semillon required significant reduction as it had set a very large crop with Shiraz also needing heavy levels of fruit reduction to ensure superlative fruit at the end. Chardonnay was the only variety we did not crop-thin for the first time, as it had naturally set a desired crop level of around 5 tonnes per Ha.

February brought a slight change in the weather and conditions became slightly cooler with a real humid spell for a couple of weeks. Véraison progressed very quickly and fortunately late February and early March turned on perfect warm, dry ripening conditions. Harvesting commenced late February with some handpicked Chardonnay. The fruit was ripening extremely quickly and constant walking and tasting in the vineyard was essential as the flavours in the white grapes were coming in at low sugar levels. Fruit quality was excellent and harvesting at lower sugar levels with full flavour development will result in lower alcohol levels in the finished wines – something we have been aiming to achieve through our viticulture. Chardonnay was particularly outstanding and overall I would rate 2003 whites as good as I have seen; characterised by clean, fresh fruit flavours with very good intensity and palate weight.

Interestingly, the red grapes ripened more slowly and harvest of Shiraz commenced mid to late March. The final Cabernet pick on the 10th April concluded vintage. Again, fruit quality was excellent, with physiologically ripe fruit flavours and lovely fine chalky tannins. Shiraz was exceptional.

Yields overall were very good and right on our target levels. Combined with the outstanding quality across the board, 2003 would rate as an exceptionally good vintage for Voyager Estate for both red and white grapes