The Vintage Report

2011 Vintage

The 2011 vintage in the Great Southern was a classic! The intensity of colour and fruit depth in the red’s is exceptional, while the whites are exhibiting vibrant fruit characters and fresh acidity.

The surprise out of Mount Barker, given the warm season, was the quality of the Riesling. What is often considered a delicate variety is very strong this year with lime citrus characters and steely acid. The benefit of picking in the coolest part of the day from 3am-6am and processing immediately reduced any of the oxidation of these desirable flavours. Chardonnays were also strong with acids holding on giving winemakers the option of picking to style.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz were the standouts for the reds. Full tannin ripeness at desirable sugar ripeness and full flavour was achieved. The January rains helped maintain canopy health and with moderate crops the vines ripened the fruit easily. Notably, small areas of Tempranillo that were planted also had
possibly their best vintages to date.

Overall, the 2011 vintage will be remembered for near perfect weather conditions. Warm, sunny days, and cool rainless nights, characterised the ripening season. This allowed for slow, even ripening and optimal flavour development with no disease pressure.