De Bortoli End of Vintage Report 2012

De Bortoli End of Vintage Report 2012

2012 Yarra Valley and King Valley Vintage Report

Yarra Valley

Cool growing conditions, good rainfall with a few dry periods, cool nights through the important January and February period. Cropping levels were down 25% from normal. Bunches and berries were small and in the case of red very high in colour.

Earlier than expected harvest, perhaps due to low crops. We started our Yarra Valley harvest with hand-picked Chardonnay and Pinot Noir on the 16th February. This is about a week earlier than normal, if there is such a thing!

Chardonnay is seriously good and many are saying it will be as good as the 2011 vintage, albeit a slightly riper season.

We were concerned that Pinot Noir was a little too big and dense in style early, but post MLF the wines have lighted off substantially and have very good perfume. It may not be quite as good as the 2010 vintage, but the wines will have many salivating at their density, colour and drinkability.

The best of the Syrah’s will also be outstanding with most vineyards showing classic ripeness and juiciness with white pepper and graphite characters. The tannins from whole bunches are pretty exciting.

Sarah Fagan has some cracking components of Riesling, Gewurz and Pinot Gris bubbling away. It may be the year for some slightly higher residuals in these aromatic wines.

We have had a real focus this year on Cabernet Sauvignon and the wines all look promising. 2012 will be the best Cabernet year since 2006 with good ripeness and density, lovely varietal leafy notes and quite fine tannin. It is very early days as many of the wines are still macerating on skins, but we are just a little excited.

Of the ‘alternate’ varieties, Sangiovese from some young Yarra plantings is looking quite drinkable as is our second harvest of the single vineyard Roundstone Gamay Noir.

The 2012 autumn in the Yarra has been one of the most beautiful and colourful in many years. It reminds us of the classic 2005 and 2002 autumns that were both fab years. Fingers crossed.

King Valley

Wonderful growing conditions through to the last couple of days of February; cool days and cool nights producing lots of aromatics in most of the white varieties.

The first few days into early March dumped 240mm of rain, making Shiraz very difficult. The following 5 weeks were like an Indian summer saving the red vintage.

Pinot Grigio and Vermentino are quite aromatic from the cooler conditions. Vermentino continues to impress and will be very important to our future in the King Valley.

Moscato Giallo is outrageously pungent and has produced a very exciting first up 5.5% frizzante style similar to Moscato d’Asti. 5.5% almost sounds like a health drink!

After some savage crop thinning, Sangiovese and Tempranillo are showing their own and will be important in our Bellariva and DB Reserve brands.

Merlot is the highlight of the reds. Beautiful juicy, plump, red and dark fruits, a little savoury and quite delicious. Classic Bellariva red. 

Cabernet loved the late heat of autumn to produce some solid classic Cabernet for Deen and DB blending.