28 Aug 08 - Peter Pratten discusses the Whispering Hill Vineyard

If, as they say, every problem is an opportunity, Peter and Elizabeth Pratten had plenty of opportunities when they set about establishing their Capel Vale Wines' Whispering Hill' vineyard in Western Australia's Mount Barker in 1984.

Although 50km inland it, was a site on which the southerly spring winds blew through you not around you, its noise through the Casuarina trees inspiring the vineyard's name. And add the wind chill factor and you'll understand why early flowering pivot noir and chardonnay had to be discarded - while laterflowering varieties of riesling and shiraz proved happier on the site.

"We had to go through numerous plantings to get the best vines to match the weather pattern of the growing season," Peter says. "With all the difficulties and low yields, it meant highcost grape growing, but we persisted as we passionately believed Whispering Hill to be the vineyard of a lifetime."

That persistence has certainly been well-rewarded with their 2005 Whispering Hill Single Vineyard Mount Barker Shiraz.

"The hungry soils give the wine a variety of special characters," Peter says, "the granite sands in particular contributing to wonderful complexity: with rich, sweet fruit flavours and a nose of pepper, red berries and spice, this is a wine that will compete with the best on the world stage, and has the potential to drink very well for 10-years plus."

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