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1999 vintage report for Yarra Valley (Victoria)

Nick Bulleid writes in Southcorp Wines vintage report that conditions had remained exceptionally dry in the Yarra since vintage and budburst was early, Chardonnay shooting in late August. Good rain in September helped fill most dams but the weather remained very variable with extremes of heat and cold. Flowering got underway with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at the end of November and set was generally good across all varieties with the exception of Merlot. Rain between Christmas and the New Year initially helped the vines, but from then on the weather became bizarre — almost tropical — with alternating periods of deluge and heat. But the killer, according to James Halliday, was near continuous rain in February and March — 122 mm and then 113 mm — which continued into early April. Even more bizarre, the central part of the valley around Lillydale and Healesville bore the brunt of the rain, while the normally wetter eastern arm of the valley beyond Seville escaped relatively unscathed. The northwestern area around Diamond Valley was also drier. The earlier varieties came through all right, with good sugars and flavour, but botrytis was endemic, as some berry split had occurred prior to veraison, thanks to the heat and wet shocks. The late varieties had much greater problems. ‘We were saved by the low crops,’ said James Halliday. Nick Bulleid said the region should produce some ‘very respectable’ Chardonnays. Pinot Noir managed to survive the weather and produce attractive wine. Sauvignon Blanc is also reported to be ‘excellent, equal to or surpassing the 1998.’ McWilliam’s winemakers in the Yarra believe that premium white wines will have good flavour yet be restrained and delicate. The premium reds will have superb intensity of flavour.