Growing season for 2007 was difficult as there had been a dry winter followed by near freezing night time temperatures in September and October. The near drought conditions meant irrigation was stretched to the limit as the ground never really got a good wetting.
Summer was mild and then in January there was a thunderstorm that produced between 40-50mm rain. Harvest started early with tonnage being down significantly due to the near drought conditions.
The best hope for 2007 was that fruit was sourced from Blewitt Springs at the high end of the McLaren Vale Basin. Blewitt Springs at an altitude between 159 to 250m and has very deep sandy soils causing the vines roots to search deep up to 10m.
Any rain that falls or irrigation that is applied is readily taken up by the huge masses of roots. The seasons drought saw the lack rainfall have the positive effect on keeping berries small. The little rain that fell during the drought has kept the vines going better than their clay soiled cousins closer to the sea. Growers in that area were probably some of the happiest in Australia with both good quality and close to average grape yields. In 2007 Blewitt Springs would be the safe bet for the best quality fruit in McLaren Vale. When you consider the widespread effects of drought across Southern Australia, it may just be the best of the lot.
It is an area renowned for its ability to sustain vines on rainfall alone. It takes more time to grow vines this way but the infertile deep sands and ironstone gravel over clay eventually support hardy vines. The wine produced from these vines has a length and depth of palate that is characteristic of this terroir.
