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Classic Australian reds showing clear varietal character offer good value for money this year given the country’s current wine glut
Weather Conditions
After last year’s drought, the weather was generally good across the board in 2004 with growers reporting good rain and low levels of disease.
‘We’ve had good winter rains, good spring rains and they’re probably looking as good right through all our regions as they have for the last two or three years, so good, healthy vines – all that goes well for good quality fruit,’ said Western Australian Wine Industry Association president, John Griffiths.
Although production levels of red wine in 2004 may not be quite as high as predicted, Australia will still have to contend with glut and oversupply. Although the quantity harvested fell below the Australian Wine and Brandy Council’s original prediction of 1.85m tonnes, the actual volume of production is given at 1.755m tonnes and this did little to calm fears of leaving next year’s crop on the vine to rot.
Best Appellations
Yarra Valley, Margaret River and Coonawarra.
