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1997 vintage report for Yarra Valley (Victoria)

‘The vintage of the century. Pity there’s so little of it,’ was the comment of Judith White, executive officer of the Yarra Valley Wine Growers Association. Overall the decrease was about 50%, due to poor fruitset and poor bud development. Vintage began in the first week of March for most wineries picking for sparkling wines. This was normal to early. Weather during vintage was very hot initially; later in April it was cooler and dry. There was minimal to no disease problem, due to the dry season. Judith said overcast and wet weather in 1995-96 caused problems with bud differentiation. A poor wet spring gave rise to poor set especially in Cabernet Sauvignon crops in the middle of the Valley. She said the quality of reds was ‘outstanding,’ with great flavour and depth, particularly Shiraz and Pinot Noir. Whites were ‘first class’, with very good Chardonnays. She said all properties needed good winter rains to refill dams. Chief winemaker for BRL Hardy, Peter Dawson, said the Yarra Valley had the driest ripening season in 100 years, a blessing following what must have been the wettest for 100 years in 1996. He said fruit quality was extremely high. ‘The Chardonnay from the Hoddles Creek vineyard is probably the best BRL Hardy has ever received. We’ve seen a high proportion of cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes normally destined for sparkling wine going into premium quality table wines.’Chardonnays have great intensity, exhibiting citrus oil flavours and long soft acidity. Pinot Noir has made the grade for the first time in three years, displaying good colour and great flavour, complexity and texture.’ He said mature fruit flavours and ideal acid balance in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier had also resulted in very high quality sparkling base wines.