Dear Friends,

My long-suffering intimates will tell you that I am an unreliable correspondent, at best. They've learned over time, however, to know that they remain always in my thoughts, and to trust how much I miss them. I bid you welcome, to their unfortunate tribe!

My apologies, then, for not having written sooner. Life continues apace for us, as it must for you; a proper measure of useful enterprise, one hopes. I'm very pleased to be back in touch with you all.

A sigh of nor'west rain this morning, glossing somnambulant cows and sun-burnished paddocks. A summer of contrasts thus far: windless days of prickling heat, and refuge sought in the pond, interspersed with gray sieges of southerly fronts, and wet cats sprawled by the fireplace. The vineyard, thanks to the talent and care of Claudia and her team, looks settled and content, in this rocking rowboat of a season.

So much time elapsed since writing does carry a sweet reward: we have news to report, and new wines to introduce. Our 2007 vintage home Pinot Noirs have determined themselves ready for release. From a cool vintage of tiny yields (yes, even tinier than in 2006), the wines are perfumed, ethereal, and low in alcohol, and we prize their subtlety, their unwillingness to shout.

We're excited, too, to introduce new offerings in our Growers Collection. Our 2008 Calvert Pinot Noir and 2008 Kerner Pinot Blanc are now available. We feel these are our strongest versions yet: vines, and winemaker, may be showing first signs of maturity. Two debuts are bringing us special pleasure: the 2007 Howell Family Cabernet Franc from Hawkes Bay, and the 2008 Hille Late Harvest Semillon.

You'll find notes on these releases on our Wines page. A few new reviews feature, too, on our updated Press page.

We welcome to our team Nicholas Brown, formerly with our dear friends Danny and Marie at Schuster Wines, and winemaker for Black Estate. Nicholas has the daunting responsibility of freeing me up for more travel and communication, and helping me to be better organised: a Sisyphean job description. Wish him luck!

A shift of wind, and blue sky emerging, though another moue of showers is apparently working its way north. In such volatile, such changeable times, how good to have patient and constant friends!

Warm regards,

Mike & Claudia Weersing