2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006

2005 Vintage Reports (Source: Winebiz.com.au)


2005 Langhorne Creek (South Australia)

Langhorne Creek experienced ideal growing conditions up to veraison this year followed by a long ripening period of mild, dry days and cool nights. The absence of weather extremes allowed every red variety, including the more heat-sensitive varieties, to achieve excellent ripeness, character and concentration of flavour.

It was an early vintage this year with fruit destined for sparkling wine being harvested from the start of February. The harvest was then relatively constant with most finishing earlier than in past years. Only a few small parcels remained to be harvested by late April.

Yields, particularly of reds, were low to average this year but small berry size assisted with flavour concentration.

Red varieties across the district showed intense colours, clear varietal characteristics and excellent length of flavour although some berry dehydration in the last third of harvest has seen a few overripe wines being produced.
Cabernet Sauvignon quality is excellent with lots of blackberries and mint characteristics. Shiraz is showing plenty of plums, spices and chocolate.
Once again, excellent fruit from the Langhorne Creek wine region, but increased instances of uncontracted fruit in the area this year has left some growers with little joy.

(Source winebiz.com.au)

2005 Barossa Valley (South Australia)

After only an average budburst, good summer rains and mild ripening conditions enabled an unexpectedly large crop of excellent quality, with good natural acidity and low pH in most varieties. Indeed, some varieties yielded at bumper levels. Weather conditions during vintage were ideal.

Whilst bunch numbers were generally down, bunch and berry sizes were up. There were instances of uneven ripening (notably in Shiraz), with the result that Baume wasn’t an ideal measure of flavour. Partly for this reason, fruit was often picked a little later than usual and generally at high Baumes. There were no significant reports of disease. The fruit quality for winemaking was excellent but there have been reports suggesting that quality at the ultra-premium end could have been better. The quality of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Barossa Valley and Riesling in Eden Valley appear to have been “stand-outs”.
The fermentation capabilities of most wineries were generally pushed to the limit and many growers were prevented from picking their fruit at optimum ripeness. Wine storage also appeared to be an issue.

It is estimated that the total crush of Barossa fruit will be in the vicinity of 90,000 tonnes, a small increase on last year’s crush. However, there were many reports of growers who experienced problems in the disposal of their fruit with most varieties affected, although Cabernet Sauvignon appeared to be the least wanted of the major varieties. Whilst some fruit was left on vines or dropped onto the ground, there are many reports of growers quitting fruit for little more than picking costs and even arranging for fruit to be crushed for their own purposes or the bulk wine market.

(Source winebiz.com.au)