Volume 74 Item 06: Sir William Macarthur memoranda regarding vintage, 1858: No. 03

[Page 3]

Memo

The vintage was commenced 5th March.  The grapes apparently quite ripe;  a sort of over ripe so Heaness much approved of on the Continent manifesting itself amongst more of the sorts of white grapes and increasing as the vintage proceeds.  The Verdeilho alone from the over crowding of foliage probably over the fruit does not seem to be so rich in sugar as usual.  The Gouais on the contrary & the Riesling are unusually rich. 

The Muscats also are not so sweet as might have been expected perhaps through the loss of lower leaves early in the summer.  The weather throughout has been favourable [indecipherable] very hot and for the most part quite cool at night.  Some showery weather