Where as the 2002 vintage in Australia was universally defined by one factor, cool temperatures, 2003 was a more complex matter where four factors converged during vintage: nationwide drought; extreme heat in some regions; widespread rains in February; and low fruitfulness in cool-climate areas. McLaren Vale experienced the dry winter typical of the 2003 vintage, however mild temperatures throughout promoted a very early bud burst in Chardonnay before a cold snap in early spring delayed Shiraz. Fruitfulness was low due to the cool spring in 2001 but fruit set was even and flowering occurred early in good conditions. The low crop levels assisted the vines in remaining healthy despite the hot and dry summer. The 2002 vintage in Australia will long be remembered for two things; firstly the cool temperatures prevalent throughout virtually the entirety of Australia and secondly the outstanding quality of the grapes harvested. In the McLaren Vale, the cool season resulted in a high quality crop that combined the traditional rich depth of flavour of McLaren Vale fruit with a refined nature and clear varietal character. McLaren Vale had a wet winter and the rain, which continued into spring, promoted strong growth in the vines. Good November weather provided perfect conditions for flowering and even the temperamental cabernet sauvignon set well. McLaren Vale had its hottest summer since 1905, with a mean maximum temperature of 31.2°C. The January heat affected most vineyards, in particular young vines and those on sandy soil and, in spite of the good set, many average crops were brought in. The white varieties ripened quickly and there was some sunburn in whites. Sauvignon blanc was affected, but Semillon fared much better. Much of the white grapes in the district were harvested before the onset of rains that hampered the 2000 vintage in most central South Australian districts. This was a great decision and a result that reflects very positively on vineyard management strength. Cabernet sauvignon was a highlight of the 2000 vintage, with McLaren Vale being the strongest area in the central region for this variety. The wines are solid and rich and the best will go into Edwards & Chaffey Section 353. The E&C McLaren Vale reds will also benefit from this windfall. Small amounts of herbaceous sauvignon blanc were also produced. These have encouraged the production of a small batch of Edwards & Chaffey Sauvignon Blanc for release at cellar door. The wine shows definitive asparagus and herbaceous characters on the bouquet, combined with rich mouth-feel. Overall, yields from McLaren Vale were very low and chardonnay suffered the most from the hot spell that began in late January. The selection process did, however, reveal enough top-class chardonnay for the super-premium Edwards & Chaffey section 353 label. McLaren Vale was the only vineyard area in South Australia to have had good winter rains, and budburst got underway with good soil moisture levels. Good follow-up rain occurred through the spring, particularly in October. The fruit and vines held up surprisingly well in the hot January weather and, when vintage got underway, it was the equal earliest start to vintage. This was a stop/start process from start to finish, with frequent rain interruptions and strange sequences, like some shiraz ripening ahead of semillon and riesling. Ninety-three millimetres of rain fell in March, which was the highest rainfall for that month in decades. It is difficult finding high quality wines amongst all varieties, but Seaview's Steve Chapman says he has good parcels of chardonnay and shiraz for Edwards and Chaffey. "Seaview chardonnay will be pretty strong again," he added. It was not a good year for semillon and sauvignon blanc, however, and there will be no Edwards and Chaffey Cabernet. The Vales suffered badly from the dry winter, with only a third of normal July rainfall. As elsewhere in the areas around Adelaide, relief came with a return to normal conditions with good rains in August and September, but October was once again very dry. These conditions remained throughout the summer, with virtually no rain and hot, windy periods in February adding to the vines' stress. The result was good, if uneven, with the red performance generally ahead of the whites. The dry-grown vineyards that usually deliver the best red fruit were sometimes disappointing, whereas those that had supplementary water produced excellent results, particularly with cabernet sauvignon. Seaview's Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz both have wonderful colour and flavour. Semillon was the best white performer - soft and round in the mouth with sweet, honeyed fruit characters. Chardonnays have high levels of alcohol and extract, but lack real fruit intensity, and sauvignon blanc was rather disappointing, without the varietal intensity required.
|
||
