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2009 vintage report for Mudgee (New South Wales)

Contributed by Paul Baguley

Growing season: Mudgee had a relative dry winter with good rains from September through to December 2008. This spring rain caused some concerns with regard to downy mildew outbreaks, but overall had a positive effect securing good moisture availability to all varieties and providing a very even budburst with good early canopy development. Frost damage was isolated to the lower parts of the district with damage extensive over the majority of affected vineyards, some of which lost up to 50% of the crop. Frost damage occurred in early November. Flowering was quite even across all varieties that were not frost-affected. The rain events had little effect on flowering and we achieved good even fruitset and berry development. Flowering in the frosted blocks was uneven which delayed harvest in some vineyards. Isolated hail events in late December and early January damaged less then 5% of the vineyards in the Mudgee district; yield losses were estimated at 5-40% over the affected vineyard area. The region’s whites ripened reasonably early over the majority of vineyards. Yields were, on average, lower, flavour development was early with Baumé slower to catch-up which led to some of these whites being picked on flavour and balance. The pH to TA balance was exceptional in the whites with none to minimal adjustments being required at the winery. Red varieties varied and flavours were again identified earlier than normal years with slow Baumé increases. The well-balanced vines with good canopy-to-crop balance ripened at a steady rate. Vines with lower canopy- areas-to-crop ratio stalled, which in some cases delayed harvest. Weather conditions generally were fine over harvest; periods of rain had minimal effect on maturity rate or disease. Heat overall was a non-event in the Mudgee region and generally had no effect on reducing the quality of fruit produced across the 2008-09 vintage.

Vintage: The 2008-09 vintage was back to an average period for the district. Budburst in the whites was 18 September through to 29 September for later whites. Cabernet and Shiraz had a budburst period of late September through to the first week of October. In many cases, Cabernet was more advanced than Shiraz at this early growth stage. Merlot was marginally behind the Shiraz with budburst completed by 17 October over most red vineyards in the district. Harvest started around 10 February with the majority of whites completed by the first week of March, other than a few later blocks located in the cooler, higher areas. Shiraz and Merlot commenced early March and the majority was completed by the first week of April. The Cabernet, in many cases, was being picked at the same time as the Shiraz and Merlot with some blocks still being picked into April. Harvest was completed by 26 April which was about 10-12 days earlier than in recent years.

Yields and quality: Yields on average were lower then the past two vintages in relation to non-frost-affected blocks. Chardonnay averaged an approximate 9t/ha. Semillon was lower across the majority of vineyards with approximatly 13.5t/ha. Bunch weights in both varieties were lighter with an even more uniform berry and bunch size which added to the good flavours and overall balance of the fruit. Shiraz was the surprise; bunch counts were quite high and early estimations predicted above average yields. The bunch size and weight overall was below district average with weight ranging on average 95-100g. Shiraz berries were very small and had developed early flavours and intense colours.

The Shiraz averaged an approximate 8.5t/ha. Merlot was marginally below average at approximately 9.5t/ha. Cabernet was more in line with traditional yields and averaged an approximate 10t/ha. The Cabernet was sensational with small berries and deep colour with early flavour development and has since developed into exceptional wines. Overall, the Mudgee region has experienced an above average vintage in relation to quality. All varieties are standouts with Chardonnay and Semillon the pick of the whites and Shiraz and Cabernet the pick of the reds.

In a sentence: Mudgee 2008-09 vintage was simply sensational in relation to the premium quality of both grape and wines produced.