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1999 vintage report for Barossa Valley (South Australia)

Barossa Valley yields were down by an estimated 5-15% this year, according to Brian Walsh, chairman of the Barossa Winemakers’ Committee. Following a higher than average 1998 harvest, vines set slightly lower crops. The hot dry weather also contributed to lower yields. The weather during vintage featured below average rainfall and above average temperatures from late November to March and above average rain in mid to late March. This led to some split fruit and early defoliation. Heat stress and lack of water led to small berries, particularly in reds.

Brian described the quality for reds as generally good, with some highlights, particularly Grenache and Shiraz. ‘Whites are generally good quality. Many seem to be lighter bodied than usual, but have retained good flavour profiles,’ he said. In his vintage report for Southcorp Nick Bulleid said there would be some surprises in the whites, some of which were more attractive than the big, alcoholic 1998s. ‘Reds are sound, lightly structured and soft, somewhat like the 1992s and ideal for early drinking, but without the generosity the Barossa is famous for,’ he said.

Southcorp’s chief winemaker John Duval said there was only limited material in the super-premium bracket and that the larger volume multi-regional Penfolds reds would contain a larger proportion than usual from the south-east part of South Australia. With finer weather later in the vintage, James Godfrey from Seppelt found the fruit for fortifieds came in better than expected. He has some ‘quite striking’ Shiraz for the vintage-dated Para Liqueur and says there will be good vintage ports from Shiraz, Touriga and Cabernet.