Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2009: Vintage reviews

VINTAGE REVIEWS. BY MICHAEL FRIDJHON.

2009 Except for those whose vineyards were threatened by the widespread bush-fires of February, this was a dream vintage. Notwithstanding a few very warm spells, the fruit was generally in excellent condition: ripe but with good acidities. Early indications suggest very good wines.

2008 A potentially great vintage compromised by rain for much of the harvest. Producers lucky enough to have avoided the worst of the weather, or those who applied rigorous sorting procedures, made some very good wines thanks to the generally cooler conditions. 2007 A vintage which yielded a reasonable quantity of generally impressive wines. Despite a few periods of intense heat, rain at the right time saw the harvest to a generally successful conclusion.

2006 A vintage which now enjoys an established reputation: good growing conditions yielded a slightly smaller crop of ripe, healthy fruit with lower sugar levels and better acidity across most of the quality wine appellations.

2005 The second dry winter in a row was followed by an even drier summer, partially relieved by some rain in February. The early, slightly smaller harvest yielded grapes which were healthy - though stress is evident in some of the reds.

2004 Despite the dry winter, an uneven berry-set and an early New Year heat wave, many of the wines have turned out well. Red wines - clumsy early on - are harmonising well.

2003 A long, cool and unhurried vintage - with evenly ripened fruit - yielded wines which are generally excellent, though the reds are developing quite slowly in bottle.