The Auswine Forum

Obviously very early days , but has anyone heard any very positive or very negative reports (stellar/wipeouts etc) across the different regions

Heard Liam Anderson from Wild Duck Creek on the radio before Easter saying the quality was very good, especially Cabernet. Was trying to get picking finished before the Easter rains.

Spoke to Nicole Standish last week, thinks 2023 will be very good.
Similar sentiments from the crew at Alkina, Greenock district looking smart.

Cheers Craig

W.A. generally is looking pretty good to excellent, due to a relatively mild summer primarily

For South Australia generally, probably one of the most challenging vintages in the last 20 years.

The lead in / start to this season was a very wet spring followed by a cool summer with largish crops, this has contributed to a very late vintage - some vines in regions shut down weeks ago with fruit still hanging and trying to ripen. A bit of rain about causing a bit of chaos too. This has culminated in putting a lot of pressure on ideal ripening for reds. Some producers have picked early.

Too early to call 2023, but I suspect will be not to dissimilar to 2017. A strong white vintage, but reds will tend to be lighter, thinner. I have it on pretty good authority that whites are looking amazing - Riesling and Chardonnay looking really strong once again.

I have heard the term 'elegant' shiraz used a lot. Cabernet is more resilient to this weather, but the weather in recent days has not been overly kind.

The south east is in a bit of pain for those who have not picked yet, not sure on Coonawarra specifically.

As I mentioned, probably too early to call. As with all vintages; varieties, regions, sub-regions, even producers - some will fair better than others - with some good wines produced still.

Thanks for the report Matt, I wouldn't actually mind if 2023 was like 2017. I have tried plenty of 2017s and yes many are a lighter style, some elegant, but others thin, green and acidic. Certainly don't need any more Riesling
Cheers Craig

Speaking to colleagues in the Barossa, Grenache could be problematical especially if yielding more than low to average.

update - Coonawarra has been referred to as "Armageddon"

You’re killing me Matt!

Looks like I’ll be buying tons more riesling later this year…

Matt@5453 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 19, 2023 5:36 pm update - Coonawarra has been referred to as "Armageddon"

Hi Matt, what is this assessment based on?
Is it many producers?
Cheers Craig

phillisc wrote: ↑Wed Apr 19, 2023 11:03 pm

Matt@5453 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 19, 2023 5:36 pm update - Coonawarra has been referred to as "Armageddon"

Hi Matt, what is this assessment based on?
Is it many producers?
Cheers Craig

Not sure of the full extent. I spoke with a number of growers and producers yesterday, current fruit is not coming off (Cabernet).
I think 90mm of rain was quote recently, disease is quite rampant as a result. Some may pick selective bunches to salvage some.
Earlier picket fruit is okay, but Baumes are at the lower end (generally speaking).

Matt@5453 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 20, 2023 9:16 am

phillisc wrote: ↑Wed Apr 19, 2023 11:03 pm

Matt@5453 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 19, 2023 5:36 pm update - Coonawarra has been referred to as "Armageddon"

Hi Matt, what is this assessment based on?
Is it many producers?
Cheers Craig

Not sure of the full extent. I spoke with a number of growers and producers yesterday, current fruit is not coming off (Cabernet).
I think 90mm of rain was quote recently, disease is quite rampant as a result. Some may pick selective bunches to salvage some.
Earlier picket fruit is okay, but Baumes are at the lower end (generally speaking).

Thanks Matt, much appreciated, I am visiting in a couple of weeks, so will keep my ear to the ground.
Cheers Craig

I will keenly await all the Marketers, Advertising Executives and vested parties to shout from the Rooftops
this is the vintage of the century.......... like last year....... and the year before ect ect

Rossco wrote: ↑Fri Apr 21, 2023 10:13 am I will keenly await all the Marketers, Advertising Executives and vested parties to shout from the Rooftops
this is the vintage of the century.......... like last year....... and the year before ect ect

Rossco, watched the youtube clip on the Redman's site, they are saying despite the reduced yields (30-50%!!) late pick, despite the rain, cabernet and shiraz are 'brilliant"!
I am not sure if late rain, late pick translates to difficulty with ripening, bunch spoilage etc etc , but will reserve my judgement. Got to get through 2109/21 purchases first, but think 2023 might turn out like 2017/20...good but certainly not great.
Cheers Craig

I’m limiting anything red from Barossa to 18, 21 and 22 save for a couple of names like Rockford and Standish

Mike Hawkins wrote: ↑Sat Apr 22, 2023 5:24 pm I’m limiting anything red from Barossa to 18, 21 and 22 save for a couple of names like Rockford and Standish

Pretty much the same for me too, except for a few “every year” buys.

https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/811 ... -wraps-up/

I visited Sellicks Hill in McLaren vale a couple of weeks ago and had a chat with Paul Petagna.

He said he probably won't pick much of his vineyard this year, struggling for ripeness and he has too much in tank/barrel already, having been caught out by the China situation. He said cooler areas of the Vales are having a tough time, smallish crops but struggling to get ripe.

Second-hand, but a quote from a Barossa winemaker at the end of March, vintage 2023, his words,
"...vintage hasn't started here and everybody is walking around as if they all have overdue babies in them. Don't think it will be a vintage to invest much into."

With good cellar stocks and advancing age I think 2021 and maybe 2022 will be my last big buy vintages for cellaring reds from South Australia.

Red Bigot wrote: ↑Sun Apr 23, 2023 3:45 pm I visited Sellicks Hill in McLaren vale a couple of weeks ago and had a chat with Paul Petagna.

He said he probably won't pick much of his vineyard this year, struggling for ripeness and he has too much in tank/barrel already, having been caught out by the China situation. He said cooler areas of the Vales are having a tough time, smallish crops but struggling to get ripe.

Second-hand, but a quote from a Barossa winemaker at the end of March, vintage 2023, his words,
"...vintage hasn't started here and everybody is walking around as if they all have overdue babies in them. Don't think it will be a vintage to invest much into."

With good cellar stocks and advancing age I think 2021 and maybe 2022 will be my last big buy vintages for cellaring reds from South Australia.

Thanks Brian, nice to hear from you again.
Alan

Mike Hawkins wrote: ↑Sat Apr 22, 2023 5:24 pm I’m limiting anything red from Barossa to 18, 21 and 22 save for a couple of names like Rockford and Standish

I would certainly include 2019 Mike, think it could be the best of the lot.
Cheers Craig

phillisc wrote: ↑Mon Apr 24, 2023 9:13 am

Mike Hawkins wrote: ↑Sat Apr 22, 2023 5:24 pm I’m limiting anything red from Barossa to 18, 21 and 22 save for a couple of names like Rockford and Standish

I would certainly include 2019 Mike, think it could be the best of the lot.
Cheers Craig

Interesting Craig. A few guys in the industry I spoke to weren’t thrilled with 2019

Alan Foo wrote: ↑Sun Apr 23, 2023 5:37 pm

Red Bigot wrote: ↑Sun Apr 23, 2023 3:45 pm I visited Sellicks Hill in McLaren vale a couple of weeks ago and had a chat with Paul Petagna.

He said he probably won't pick much of his vineyard this year, struggling for ripeness and he has too much in tank/barrel already, having been caught out by the China situation. He said cooler areas of the Vales are having a tough time, smallish crops but struggling to get ripe.

Second-hand, but a quote from a Barossa winemaker at the end of March, vintage 2023, his words,
"...vintage hasn't started here and everybody is walking around as if they all have overdue babies in them. Don't think it will be a vintage to invest much into."

With good cellar stocks and advancing age I think 2021 and maybe 2022 will be my last big buy vintages for cellaring reds from South Australia.

Thanks Brian, nice to hear from you again.
Alan

+1, good to see you RB
Yes if 2023 follows the same road as 2017/20 then I can finally bow out. Leave the rest to the younger drinkers/collectors coming through.
Cheers Craig

It's not all doom and gloom. Heard the chief wine maker from Stella Bella who said they had an excellent vintage in Margaret River.

A generalist article about the threat climate change / extreme weather is bringing to Australia, but nonetheless with comments from a number of familiar names: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-62489056

jimv wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 7:43 am It's not all doom and gloom. Heard the chief wine maker from Stella Bella who said they had an excellent vintage in Margaret River.

Jim...it been a good vintage for the last 50 years in Margs??
When was the last time the West had a shocker, like over here in 1989, 1992, 1995, 2011?

Cheers Craig

I heard a podcast with Andrew Thomas (Thomas Wines) who said despite the reduced yields the 2023 vintage looks excellent in the Hunter.

2023 vintage up there with the best ever in Canberra region apparently.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/82010 ... KpEw%3D%3D

Whereas he said it was the worst hail damage he had seen in the district wine region in 50 years a few months ago?

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/75714 ... vineyards/