2003 The drought vintage

Part 3  South Australia

South Australia, as with other regions of Australia, suffered from restricted yields as a partial consequence of the drought. However the unseasonable cool spring of 2001 also affected yields, as it was during this time that bunches, which would ultimately become fruit in 2003, were being formed. This had a negative impact on the fruitfulness of the vines, particularly in cool areas, not only in South Australia but in the rest of Australia as well. Thus the very low yields seen in 2003 were a combination of these two extreme factors.

Access to supplementary water was a crucial factor in grape quality during the 2002/03 growing season. With the existence of many dry land vineyards throughout South Australia, the state felt the full impact of the low rainfall. However much-needed rain arrived in late February, giving the vines the water they needed to successfully ripen their crop. Although this proved troublesome for some vineyards, others benefited and produced some extremely good parcels of fruit.

The Barossa Valley experienced an incredibly short and intense vintage. Late summer rain followed by warm, dry conditions caused the grapes to ripen very quickly. Unfortunately for some vineyards, this led to berry splitting, which further reduced overall yields. However for others, rich and intense parcels of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon were the result. The seasonal conditions favoured the reds, with the whites lacking finesse. However for the higher altitude Eden Valley, it was Riesling that stood out. The low yields resulted in extremely concentrated flavours supported by tight acidity.

Riesling was also a strong performer for the Clare Valley. Coming off the success of 2002, the quality of 2003 Rieslings was a genuine surprise. Due to the warm and dry seasonal conditions, the wines show more weight and concentration than usual, but without the finesse of a great year. The reds, due to the reduced yields, have good colour and tannin.

As with elsewhere in Australia, it was the cool regions of South Australia that benefited most from the drought conditions and the Adelaide Hills was no exception. The warm weather and low yields resulted in wines of excellent weight and concentration. Sauvignon Blanc shows good varietal character and Chardonnay, particularly from the cooler parts of the region, shows excellent structure and flavour.

The Limestone Coast zone experienced a mild season, in contrast to the hot conditions of most drought-affected regions. It also managed to absorb the February rains with little negative consequences. Both Padthaway and Coonawarra are reporting strong seasons, particularly for Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Padthaway also had an excellent Chardonnay year, with the wines displaying rich, ripe flavours, largely as a result of the low yields.

For McLaren Vale, the low yields influenced by the cool 2001 spring, allowed the vines to successfully weather the drought. However like the Barossa, heavy rains hit the region at the end of February, which has led to a mix of quality levels throughout the region. Chardonnay was the regional highlight, with rich fruit flavours, though there were also strong parcels of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Crop levels were down across the region, with Shiraz suffering the greatest reductions.

The neighbouring Langhorne Creek region had good insurance against drought conditions, with its moisture retaining soils and good supplementary water supplies. Richly flavoured Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz were the hallmarks of the vintage.

As with other hot regions, the Riverland felt the full impact of the hot and dry conditions. Whereas fruit quality was exceptional in 2002, the whites of 2003 lack a little finesse and structure in comparison. That said, it was a solid year with low disease pressures. Chardonnay is flavoursome and the reds deeply coloured.

In summary, although the 2003 South Australian vintage was a mixed one, there were many regional highlights. Considering that most regions experienced a very dry growing season, the impact of the drought would have been stronger if it hadn't been for the rains in February and March. These in themselves caused problems but in general they did revitalise the vines, which enabled crops to ripen. As South Australia is particularly renowned for its reds, time is required before the final verdict on the success of the vintage can be made, as many wines are still undergoing post-ferment operations and barrel ageing. However there should be plenty of shining stars from 2003.

© Toni Paterson 2003