Irvine

News - Merlot Musings

06 April 2007

Vintage Update - in fact updated - past tense its finished!!!

Doom & Gloom!

2007 vintage was an interesting one to say the least. Mother Nature was sorting things out in her own wise way. For the last few years the wine industry has been bemoaning over supply and low prices not only for grapes but also for finished wines that have been sitting on the bulk wine market for what seems like ages to those paying the storage bills.

Drought has been the talk of the entire nation with even the city folk feeling the effects on their own little patch of Australia and urban Australia having a new found empathy with those of us on the land. Its even much talked about in government circles. As to their response well this is perhaps this is not the venue for that!

Eden Valley this valley of Eden was not spared because of its name. Very low with an big emphasis on both the very and the low the rainfall that was had over the winter had many of the old timers of the valley confirming what all the press were saying that the drought was here and it was severe. Add to that very low temperatures and the lack of cloud causing bad frosts in November saw many vignerons loose huge percentages of their overall crop with some varieties being completely wiped out. The headlines of the local paper screamed of the magnitude of the problem. At every wine industry gathering, the pub, the supermarket there were stories of loss.
As a black frost many frost fans failed to do their job only adding to the catastrophe.

Philosophical Resilience

With so much at stake and having no choice but to deal with what Mother Nature has metered out to them the good folk of the Barossa are extremely resilient and wonderfully philosophical about what the future will hold. Such is the belief in what they have achieved in the past what they are doing now despite the set backs and how optimistic they are about the future one can only be inspired by this and carry on with greater fortitude and resolve to grow better grapes and produce better wine. A philosophy long held by Irvine Wines but given further impetus by the circumstances we now find ourselves in.

There is always a silver lining.

Vintage was short and sharp to say the least lasting for March – that’s it just March 1st to March 30th done and dusted. Starting with the Pinot Gris and ending with Zinfandel as is normally the case but not quite in such a condensed period. Tonnages were down being on average only a third of normal. That was the situation at Springhill, the property has only bore water to draw on and we ran out. Water even had to be purchased for the house.

With a short vintage there was time to party. The Barossa Vintage Festival celebrated its 60th year this year and because vintage was so very short winemakers, cellar hands growers and all those usually involved in vintage had the opportunity to enjoy Easter and party through the Vintage Festival. And what a festival it was. The photo’s here tell the story. Highly respected winemakers on the Eden Valley float. Hmmmmm! Let me know your comments at jonathan@irvinewines.com.au the best caption gets something exciting.

Don’t Despair.

There were pleasant surprises all round when Joanne brought in the wines from the 07 vintage. All now bedded down for the winter out of the rain we hope we have. All are through malolactic fermentation and despite low tonnages the wines are looking really good. We were looking at the prospect of there not being a 2007 vintage of the Grand Merlot and while Jim will never make compromises on this wine the future looks bright.

Another very bright note from the 2007 vintage is the new product for Irvine Wines, 2007 Albarino. A wonderful fresh lively white now in bottle with pear and pineapple characters and a lively fresh finish. Somewhat like Sauvignon Blanc but with more flavour. A great wine that the marketing team are thoroughly assessing on a daily basis! Order some soon so as to not miss out as only 300 cases were produced.

So for winter we attend the wines look to the skies for both inspiration and precipitation both of which we are very confident of getting in buckets. That philosophical nature of those on the land, namely us, persists and the future will be good with some great Irvine wines to drink who could argue.

Stay Tuned.

Coming soon to you will be the 2002 Grand Merlot. Much has been written about his great vintage and the Grand Merlot qualifies all these comments and will be released very soon. Stay tuned.

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