2011 Vintage Report
05 May 2011
The 2011 vintage at Peter Lehmann Wines commenced on the 21st of February (17 days later than in 2010) and was completed on the 18th of April. The late start was due to an incredibly mild summer and autumn which ensured slow, even ripening of the fruit. This has enabled us to make delicate, fruit driven white wines and deeply coloured, textural reds.
Above average rainfall before and during vintage did cause disease problems in some vineyards, however this fruit was not picked and did not enter the winery. The majority of our growers’ vineyards were unaffected and due to the ideal ripening temperatures have produced excellent wines.
Semillon, Riesling, Frontignac, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc were picked early and have produced stylish white wines with great varietal definition. Shiraz performed very well with our top low yielding vineyards, particularly those in the western Barossa, giving wines of great colour and richness. Cabernet Sauvignon flourished in the cool conditions and we are seeing deeply coloured wines with excellent varietal character. Of the remaining reds, Tempranillo was the star, being a robust, tough skinned variety.
Our legacy of over 150 growers spread across the length and breadth of the Barossa has again provided us with a great resource and enormous flexibility. Despite some pessimism from other areas, it looks like a very good year for us here at Peter Lehmann Wines.
