quicksearch
OVERVIEW Whereas the 2002 vintage in Australia was universally defined by one factor, cool temperatures, 2003 was a more complex matter where four factors converged during vintage: nationwide drought; extreme heat in some regions; widespread rains in February; and low fruitfulness in cool-climate areas. The scene for the 2003 vintage in cool-climate regions was set as far back as November and December 2001 when the bunches that would eventually become fruit in 2003 were formed. Unusually cool temperatures at the time of bud formation resulted in smaller bunch numbers and sizes forming, and despite adjustments to pruning in 2002, lower yields were seen in the cool-climate regions in 2003.
OVERVIEW
Whereas the 2002 vintage in Australia was universally defined by one factor, cool temperatures, 2003 was a more complex matter where four factors converged during vintage: nationwide drought; extreme heat in some regions; widespread rains in February; and low fruitfulness in cool-climate areas.
The scene for the 2003 vintage in cool-climate regions was set as far back as November and December 2001 when the bunches that would eventually become fruit in 2003 were formed. Unusually cool temperatures at the time of bud formation resulted in smaller bunch numbers and sizes forming, and despite adjustments to pruning in 2002, lower yields were seen in the cool-climate regions in 2003.
There were many varied conditions across the four seasons of the vintage year starting with a dry winter followed by a warm and clear spring. In contrast to the previous year, the 2003 growing season in southern Australia was generally regarded as warm, and although the total heat from September to April was only up 3% on long-term averages, there were periods of extreme heat throughout the early summer months.
Single day rainfalls at the end of January, February and March provided welcome relief to the vines, maintaining excellent vine leaf canopies and function, contributing to full-flavor profiles and ripeness.
February and March were much cooler than normal, leading to slower ripening fruit with good flavor development and fresh acid retention. April was warmer than usual, providing an excellent ripening finish for the reds.
Significant rainfall in cool-climate regions of southeastern Australia close to harvest caused some berry splitting and raised the potential for disease. However, the cool, dry conditions that followed minimized disease and prevented any damage to quality.
Yields varied markedly from region to region and total intake was 226,500 tonnes, a decrease of 10% on 2002. Red grape varieties accounted for 132,500 tonnes (down 5% on 2002), and white grape varieties accounted for 94,000 tonnes (down 17% on 2002).
The year saw an enormous focus on enhancing vineyard performance and yields while improving viticultural impact. Harvesting systems continue to be improved to deliver cleaner fruit of more consistent quality. Initiatives include detailed mapping of vineyards for vine vigor and yield, better maturity testing and batching of fruit. Irrigation application and scheduling also continue to improve.
Throughout much of South Australia and Victoria, Shiraz is the outstanding red variety with a good combination of brightness of fruit and concentration, ripe fruit flavors, balanced tannins and clear varietal character. McLaren Vale experienced a high quality vintage, producing wines with spicy fruit flavors and velvety tannins, promising much for the full-bodied Kirralaa red wines.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Adelaide Hill
Cooler weather in mid-February that followed the rains provided good ripening conditions. Low yields and cool temperatures during ripening allowed the fruit to develop excellent flavors while retaining acidity.
The cool conditions in the spring of 2001 produced low fruitfulness that resulted in low bunch numbers and sizes for the 2003 vintage that enabled the vines to develop excellent flavors while retaining acidity, despite the warm and extremely dry conditions that followed through spring and summer.
Vintage in the Adelaide Hills was very early and compressed, with most fruit coming into the winery within the two weeks from late March to early April.
2003 was an excellent year for Adelaide Hills Chardonnay. The region that incorporates many diverse microclimates and warmer areas produced richly flavored wines with ripe flavors of honeydew, melon and guava. This fruit will provide the lift to the Kirralaa 2003 Chardonnay and will provide an excellent follow-up to the first vintage.
Barossa Valley: Barossa
Above average temperatures with low rainfall restricted yields. Dry weather after mid-February rains allowed the vineyards to recover quickly - a strong result for Shiraz with ripe fruit, balanced tannins and clear varietal character.
The Barossa Valley endured the same drought conditions as most of the country with a very cool and dry winter followed by similar weather in spring. While fruit set was average, the preceding cool spring prior to the 2002 vintage resulted in fruitfulness for 2003 being low and bunch weights well under average. The Barossa vineyards, the majority dry-grown, benefited from small amounts of supplementary water during summer, although yields were low, assisting the vines in ripening without stress.
Vintage started somewhat early on February 17. The very dry conditions proved to be a blessing in some ways when the Barossa received three inches of rain in mid-February. The rain was followed by dry, windy conditions that combined with the dry weather before vintage to ensure that the vineyards recovered quickly, retaining high baumes throughout.
Shiraz from well-managed vineyards that ripened earlier is outstanding, with ripe, fruit flavors, balanced tannins and clear varietal character. Special old lots of "Bush-vine" Shiraz will make up the backbone of Kirralaa 2003 Bushvine Shiraz.
Clare Valley: Mount Lofty Ranges
A dry winter followed by conditions conducive to a good vintage. Balanced vines weathered the conditions well before much needed February rains invigorated the canopies. Riesling has rich citrus flavors and crisp acidity.
Clare Valley experienced a long, dry winter with bud burst for Riesling occurring in early spring. A mild spring restrained canopy growth before near perfect climatic conditions during flowering ensured a healthy fruit set. The hot, dry days of late December and early January were balanced by cool evenings that assisted the fruit in retaining acidity.
The rains in early February were a blessing, providing much needed invigoration of the canopies and vines. The rain was followed by mild and even conditions that, coupled with the long early autumn, provided ideal ripening conditions throughout late February and March and into vintage.
Eden Valley: Barossa
Winter was dry, and while flowering and fruit set were even, crops were reduced. Lower temperatures and cool nights ensured subtle fruit flavors and crisp acidity.
While some parts of the Eden Valley experienced higher than normal temperatures during the 2003 vintage, the traditionally cool upper Eden Valley was less affected by the warm conditions. Winter was dry, similar to the nearby Clare Valley, which meant that although flowering and fruit set were even, the crops were reduced from previous years.
The lower temperatures and cool nights ensured the fruit developed an array of subtle fruit flavors with complex floral notes and crisp acidity. The vineyards were harvested according to individual ripeness in late March and early April and the fruit was delivered to the winery in small parcels.
Langhorne Creek
Early vintage rains had minimal effect with vines recovering quickly - a successful year for red wines with concentrated flavors and pronounced blocky tannins.
The Langhorne Creek area experienced similar conditions to its neighbor, McLaren Vale, throughout the 2003 vintage, although the late February rains were less of a factor. The harvest itself began in fine conditions in the last week of February, which was slightly later than McLaren Vale.
Langhorne Creek in general enjoys deep rich soils that retained good moisture levels throughout the drought. This assisted the vines in generating substantial canopies which shielded the bunches from the summer sun.
Yields in 2003 were lower than average, but this assisted the vines in producing the richly flavored wines with red berry flavors and chocolate flavors coupled with the pronounced blocky tannins that Langhorne Creek is capable of in the best years.
The fruit will be a key component in 2003 Kirralaa Cabernet Sauvignon and Bushvine Shiraz.
McLaren Vale
Low yields due to cool temperatures assisted vines in weathering the drought. The vines maintained sugar levels following early vintage rains and ripened evenly. Shiraz and Cabernet possess rich flavors and supple tannins.
McLaren Vale experienced the dry winter typical of the 2003 vintage; however, a cold snap in early spring delayed bud burst in Shiraz. Fruitfulness was low due to the cool spring in 2001, but fruit set was even and flowering occurred early in good conditions. The low crop levels assisted the vines in remaining healthy despite the hot and dry summer.
The three inches of rain on February 20, followed by a week of wet and misty weather, caused some splitting of berries. Fortunately the rain also rejuvenated canopies and sugar concentrations remained high throughout. A dry Indian summer and windy conditions assisted the vines in recovering and preventing disease.
Vintage was earlier than normal, beginning in fine conditions in the second week in February and finishing on April 22. There were strong parcels of Shiraz with balanced, ripe, spicy fruit flavors and velvety tannin structure. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were improved, and careful tannin management, including low extraction, ensured varietally expressive wines with rich flavors and supple tannins.
While yields were reduced, McLaren Vale experienced a high quality vintage, producing wines with spicy, fruit flavors and velvety tannins, promising much for the full-bodied Kirralaa red wines.
The low yields and moderate temperatures resulted in an excellent result for the Kirralaa 2003 red wines from McLaren Vale, including Bushvine Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. These wines will be concentrated with intense flavors balanced by supple tannins.
Hunter: Hunter Valley
The drought conditions ensured low yields and concentrated flavors. The dry weather before and after the late February rain meant the vines recovered quickly with no disease pressure. Rosemount's Roxburgh vineyard was the standout, producing balanced, intensely flavored fruit.
The upper Hunter Valley experienced the dry conditions that were common to many Australian winegrowing regions throughout the winter, spring and early summer of the 2003 vintage. Low crop levels, due to reduced bunch numbers and bunch sizes, meant that the vines in general were able to ripen their fruit without stress. While it lowered yields, the drought had a positive effect on quality in 2003 and an increased concentration in the wines will be seen.
The drought conditions and absence of really hot weather meant that established vineyards, such as Roxburgh, maintained good soil moisture levels and thrived, producing well balanced, intensely flavored wines.
The rain that swept across Australia in mid- to late February did fall in the Hunter Valley, but the dry conditions before and after the rain meant there was no disease pressure and the vines recovered quickly. With no further threat of rain, the team was able to harvest the fruit at peak ripeness and baume levels. Vintage began almost two weeks earlier than normal, with the first Hunter Valley fruit entering the winery on January 14.
The rich Terra Rossa soils of the Rosemount Roxburgh vineyard enabled it to handle the dry conditions with ease, maintaining good soil moisture levels throughout the growing season. While the season was extremely dry, temperatures remained moderate, assisting the mature vines in producing fruit that retained excellent acidity resulting in perfectly balanced wines. The 2003 Kirralaa Chardonnay will be a highlight with bright fruit and intense flavors.
VICTORIA
Bendigo: Central Victoria
Low yields due to low fruitfulness and dry conditions led to intensely flavored wines. Shiraz is the standout with intense color and concentrated flavors.
The prevailing dry weather throughout the vintage season kept the Bendigo growers on alert to ensure they maintained sufficient water supply to the vines. As a result of low rainfall and cool conditions in 2002, the fruitfulness of buds was low, resulting in yields being down approximately a third from the previous year. The small crops and good conditions during autumn meant that the vines ripened quickly and without stress, providing an even crop of good quality.
The Cabernet Sauvignon from the Bendigo area was excellent this vintage but Shiraz was again the star. The vintage produced Shiraz fruit with intense color, concentrated flavors and fine-grained tannins that will add depth and structure to the 2003 Kirralaa Indelible Reserve Shiraz.
Grampians: Western Victoria
Reduced yields of high quality fruit. Shiraz was excellent with bright fruit and rich concentration of flavor - another successful vintage.
The Grampians district in western Victoria historically experiences low rainfall during summer and 2003 was no exception. With dry conditions prevailing, a cool spring was followed by a moderate summer. Rainfall experienced throughout much of southeastern Australia in mid-February proved to be of little consequence in most vineyards with clear, dry weather following throughout to harvest.
With the crop levels down approximately 30% on the previous vintage, the vines were able to sustain the conditions and ripen the fruit without stress.
The mid-February rains did affect the volume of Shiraz fruit; however the quality is stunning with excellent concentration and a rich back palate.
Shiraz from the Grampians possesses the best characteristics of a cool year, with a bright, vibrant character and the rich concentration of flavor found in dry years. It is unusual to get both characteristics in one year and it points to another outstanding Kirralaa Indelible Reserve Shiraz.
