We had good spring rains but lower summer rainfall than we usually receive in McLaren Vale. As a result of this dry growing period, disease pressure was low (no mildews!) although we had a couple of heat spikes in late January and some hot days in February which resulted in reduced crops compared to 2018 (down by up to 30% depending on variety).  Whites were picked early in February and picking of the reds started at the beginning of March and was largely all over by the end of the month. Quality is terrific however, and we have great hopes for the reds from 2019.

Back to the future with this opulent Vintage Fortified Touriga Nacional. In the old days we would have called this wine a Vintage Port. The Bosworth VFT is made using one of the best-known red varieties from Portugal, where it plays a leading role in the production of vintage ports and increasingly, dry red wines. 

Touriga has terrific structure and body and has great tannins and concentrated flavors of black fruit - perfect for making Vintage Fortified wines. We pick the Touriga flavour and sugar ripe and ferment it in open vessels. The wine is then fortified with fine brandy grape spirit to stop the fermentation process and elevate the alcohol up to about 19% alcohol. The VFT then hid in a Hogshead barrel (300 litres) and a Barrique (225 litres) for a year or more prior to being discovered by Louise and bottled in August and then packaged in time for Christmas.

• 2021
• 2019