Vintage Reports

Filter reports by year

View Vintage Report overviews for: 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996

1999 vintage report for Eden Valley (South Australia)

Spokesman for the Eden Valley, Brian Walsh, said wines from the region had come through unfavourable weather conditions remarkably well. Overall yields were down, ranging from 5 to 40% in different parts of the region. ‘Following the higher than average 1998 vintage, many vines set lower crops for 1999,’ Brian said. ‘Higher than average temperatures during flowering and the rains in late March further decreased yields.’ Features of the weather during vintage were below average rainfall and above average temperatures from late November through to March. Above average rain — up to four times the average March rainfall — fell in mid to late March. Heat stress led to some early defoliation and rains caused some split fruit mould and botrytis infections. Brian described the vintage quality for reds as ‘average to good, lacking perhaps the highlights of the Barossa Valley.’

He said whites were average to good quality. ‘Riesling in particular is above average in flavour and quality.’ Tollana’s Neville Falkenberg says Riesling is the highlight of the Eden Valley vintage. ‘We had good leaf cover and the fruit came in two weeks early, just as the rain started. The Riesling has quite lifted, rose-petal characters — quite powerful fruit and not as steely-Eden Valley as usual,’ Neville said.

Andrew Ewart, chief winemaker at Mountadam Vineyards said whites harvested before the end of March show strong varietal flavour and are well balanced. ‘Botrytis-infected fruit has contributed to a broader palate structure,’ he said. The later ripening reds were unaffected by the cyclonic weather in March and fine warm weather in April resulted in strong ripe fruit flavours from well balanced vines. Heavy cropped vines had botrytis and lacked depth of flavour. ‘It was a difficult vintage managing vineyards and handling wines from botrytis-infected fruit,’ Andrew said.