A challenging vintage for South African growers, with abnormal weather conditions leading to a long and difficult harvest. The winter was unusually dry and warm but was then followed by a spell of cold weather during flowering. The latter had the effect of vastly reducing yields in early ripening varieties such as Chardonnay and Pinotage. January was then cool but February and March were exceptionally warm and dry. The Chardonnay and Pinotage dominated wines are excellent. The Cabernet Sauvignons and Shiraz grapes were harvested at very high sugar levels but in many cases the wines display less fruit concentration than the 1998s.