2009 VINTAGE REPORT
Once again, in February this year, I headed to the Barossa to monitor the fruit in the vineyards for optimal picking times. 2009 was looking like the third early ripening year for Head Wines. The combination of yet another heat-wave (this one during veraison), lack of water (although we did have 3 inches in November) and panicking growers, looked like setting off the rush to pick everything at once causing the potential for a shortage of space in the winery.
Then the unexpected happened. In March the weather turned cold, especially at night and then a little rain gave the vines a drink just at the right time for all my shiraz vineyards to develop a secondary burst of flavour and colour. By the time I hand-picked my Grenache, it had been one of the coolest vintages since 2002. The year produced some of the best late-ripening varietals (Grenache/Mataro/Cabernet Sauvignon) in 10 years. And the good news is, there will be a 2009 Head Wines Grenache coming from a single ancient vineyard.
It’s hard to generalise about vintages when the grapes that you are using come from 6 different growers and 5 different varieties (early and late ripening) to make 5 unique wines. So, I want to give you an idea of where this vintage sits compared to the monumental ‘shiraz year’ that was 2008. When you read a vintage report about a mass producer it has absolutely no relevance to a small producer like Head Wines. I micro-manage every stage from vineyard to winemaking to bottling to ensure that the highest quality level is maintained.
2009 in a nutshell:
- The heat-wave in 2009 happened during early stages of veraison and not during the detrimental later ripening period.
- Crop levels were down again (usually means higher quality) on 2008 - no vineyard cropped over 2 tonne per acre. There was good balance in leaf to bunch ratio and this helps the fruit to ripen evenly.
- Less sun-burnt fruit due to changed trellising systems (now permanent arm) providing bigger canopy and shelter.
- Temperatures during fermentations were more controllable (in 2008 ambient temps in the winery were above 40 degrees for 3 weeks) and aroma and perfumes in the wines are back to a level seen in the 06/07s.
- Higher natural acid levels (makes longer lived wines) due to less water stress (rains in Dec.) and unusually cool nights (vines will hold acidity).
- Lowest alcohols with physiological ripeness seen since 2002. Every Shiraz in the winery from 2009 had an alcohol below 14.0. Like the old days!
In many ways 2009 was the dream vintage. As a winemaker I really didn’t have to work too hard. However, even though they are perfumed, long lived, beautifully structured wine they will not have the immense, bludgeoning power of the 2008 wines.
2008 VINTAGE REPORT
To come.
2007 VINTAGE REPORT
Brief notes on 2007:
An up and down year for many in the Barossa with continued drought and some frosts making the winemakers job both challenging but ultimately rewarding. In January a growth phase in the grape berry where the size would normally double, didn’t really eventuate. The stress from heat/lack of water and in some cases frost left the vines struggling to produce fruit with any mid palate richness. A very early harvest in March meant things were hectic in the winery and yields were down in some vineyards by up to 50%, which in turn saved the quality of the finished wines. The wines have the very best perfumed characters, supple tannin and a warmth that has allowed for early drinking.