A quick summary.

It’s a 9/10 at the half way mark of Vintage 2017 and it looks like the Yarra Valley has been fortunate on the weather front. After a cool early summer and a nervous January/Feb an amazing early Autumn spread through the Yarra.

It looks like a vintage from the “naughty nineties” – cool/mild with evenly balanced crops, excellent acidity, ripe flavours and tannin structure. Vintage started in the first week of March almost three weeks later than V2016. Initially Chardonnay/Pinot Noir and varieties such as Pinot Gris and Sauv Blanc looked light with variable crops and uneven set across most of the Yarra. A healthy 25 – 40mls + of rain saw Chardonnay fill out and tonnages reach normal averages across all clones.

This has been followed by a mild Indian summer/early Autumn with temperatures in the 28 – 33 degrees C range and cool nights. Pinot Noir will be a standout with crops on most vineyards down 20% however some vineyards will achieve their expected average. Chardonnay/Pinot Gris have bountiful flavour and fresh, crisp acidity and balance. Picking of Shiraz/Cab Sauv and other red varietals is now underway after a few days of thundery weather and light rain.

A Yarra vintage to put in the “Black book” as there will be some beautiful wines across all vineyards and wine companies.

Stay tuned for more!