Filter reports by year

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

2010 vintage report for Barossa Valley (South Australia)

Supplied by the Barossa Grape & Wine Association Inc.
Growing season: The Barossa experienced its best rainfall in five years during the winter and spring of 2009, which filled most of the Eden Valley dams and provided good soil moisture for the onset of the growing season. Late spring was fairly mild with some moderately warm days, resulting in an early budburst, but the following growth was very slow across the region when a period of cool, wet weather set in and daily maximum temperatures barely reached 20oC. By late October, many vines still looked anaemic and stunted and, on top of that, in isolated pockets wind and hail damaged some of these weaker early shoots.
In early November, a nine-day heat event (peaking at 41.5oC), and windy weather led to rapid leaf and canopy growth, but coincided with flowering in some early varieties causing shatter and low fruitset. Chardonnay and Grenache were the worst affected major varieties during this period across the region.
Warm and mild weather ensued for the remainder of the growing season so canopies remained very healthy and ripening accelerated for an early vintage. The onset of cool nights in mid-March slowed the final harvest for some later varieties and vineyards.
There was minimal disease throughout the Barossa. Isolated pockets of powdery mildew and lightbrown apple moth caused some damage, particularly in the Eden Valley.
Vintage: The 2010 vintage began in January, only slightly earlier than average, and proceeded exceptionally well with mild and dry ripening conditions and cool nights. Healthy vines, many bearing below-average crops, meant that while the start was only slightly early, the remaining grapes ripened very quickly, with all but the very latest red blocks and varieties harvested before Easter – which was good since the day after Easter it rained!
Yields and quality: Within the Barossa Valley, Chardonnay and Grenache crops were generally very poor this year due to the hot and unfavourable flowering conditions. Shiraz, however, was much more resilient and produced reasonable yields. Quality was excellent, particularly for Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, while the low-yielding, older-vine Grenache shows excellent colour and flavour development. In Eden Valley, good canopy growth and warm and mild weather through the ripening period was ideal and resulted in high quality grapes for this vintage. Riesling is stunning – the vines had excellent canopy growth and ripened quickly with excellent flavour and minimal sunburn. The red standout was Cabernet Sauvignon where flavours were intense and uniform after an ideal fruit-to-canopy balance. Chardonnay and Shiraz also ripened rapidly with healthy, balanced canopies, and moderate crop levels leading to vibrant flavours. In summary, the 2010 wines are proving that this has been an exceptional year for the Barossa. In the Barossa Valley, Shiraz – the stalwart – Grenache, Mataro (Mourvèdre) and Cabernet Sauvignon are all strong with dense colours, personality and true varietal expression. Semillon could be showing the best and purest varietal expression for some years.
In the higher Eden Valley the reds are equally as gorgeous, with Riesling showing delicacy and finesse with long, mouth-watering, natural acid.