Coonawarra

1997 Coonawarra Vintage Report

The wet winter weather extended into spring, with well above average rainfall in September and temperatures generally cool. October brought average rainfall but was still cool. Several light frosts occurred but produced no damage. The cool weather continued into November and December, with average temperatures 1-20°C below normal and the season appeared to be one to two weeks late. A difficult flowering period badly affected cabernet sauvignon's crop potential.

After a cool, dry December, January produced some welcome rain and pleasantly warm weather. But Coonawarra did not escape February's extreme heat and temperatures in the 40°Cs were common. After that, the weather turned cold again, with foggy mornings and heavy dews, and the prospects for vintage did not look good.

The harvest started in the week of 17 March with pinot noir and chardonnay for sparkling wine. Then a dramatic change in weather from early April brought the summer that Coonawarra had never had. After the gloom earlier in the season, the winemakers now find they have an excellent red vintage in hand. Some claim the best shiraz since 1993 and the best cabernet since 1991.

Peter Douglas is delighted with his Wynns reds. "We were extremely lucky with that great weather in April," he said. "They have richness and ripe fruit and the potential of the 1993s or even better." There will be both a John Riddoch Cabernet and Michael Shiraz from '97. As in Padthaway, chardonnay was uneven, but Peter Douglas is very pleased with his wine — a fine, "citrusy wine" with good acidity, which he likens to his '94. Riesling is also fine and quite austere in style and will make a good keeper. Merlot was a great success and will make a major contribution to Lindemans Pyrus although, pressed for his choice of the Lindemans "Trio", Greg Clayfield said he'd put his money on Limestone Ridge. Pinot noir is exceptional, with Paul Gordon from Rouge Homme ecstatic. "Our pinot will give some of those supposedly better areas a run for their money." Paul is delighted with his cabernet and shiraz, too.