Filter reports by year

• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012
• 2011
• 2010
• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005
• 2004
• 2003
• 2002
• 2001
• 2000
• 1999
• 1998
• 1997
• 1996

2000 vintage report for Margaret River (Western Australia)

Sue Jackman, executive officer of the Margaret River Wine Industry Association, reports that vintage started early this year, with Verdelho coming off in the second week of March and Chardonnay following in the third week. Yield was generally in line with forecasts. Higher variance was generally experienced in young vines. Semillon crops were not as high as 1999 and generally Chardonnay crops were slightly higher. Sauvignon Blanc yields were up slightly on 1999. Sue said Cabernet Sauvignon yields are down at least 20% on some sites compared to 1999 but quality is up. Merlot yields are slightly down on last year, while Shiraz yields are slightly up on last year. ‘Compared to 1999 the whites in general appear to have more flavour,’ Sue said. ‘Both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot on the whole have been excellent and often ripened before Shiraz this vintage. The wettest calendar year on record and a cool lead-up to Christmas saw a lot of vigour at all sites, and close adherence to spray programs, trimming, and plucking were required to ward off disease,’ Sue said. ‘However, no losses to the newly discovered downy mildew were reported.’ Cyclonic activity in the north-west of the state provided some nervous moments in early March with harvest of the whites in full swing. Falls of rain varied from 8 to 35 mm across the region, causing a lot of rescheduling but no great harm. ‘Compared to 1999 the whites in general appear to have more flavour,’ Sue said. ‘Both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot have been excellent and often ripened before Shiraz.’