2011 Argentina (Mendoza) Vintage

The 2011 season ran from spring 2010 through the autumn 2011 harvest. Winter 2010 was cold and dry, and spring arrived with a slight phenological delay of about a week in most zones, with excellent budbreak. On the early morning of 9 November a late frost struck, after a Zonda wind. It was fairly general but severe only in the lowest parts of Lujan and the Uco Valley, in districts such as Perdriel, Agrelo, Ugarteche, Tunuyan, La Consulta and El Cepillo. Rain from October to December was normal for the period, about 56 mm. January 2011 was notably cooler than normal, with absolute maximums about 2.5 degrees C lower, and February was cool too, about 2 degrees C below 2010, with rain that slowed ripening. At Perdriel in Lujan de Cuyo, 137 mm of rain fell from January to March, 83 mm of it in February, yet vine health was generally excellent, and March and April there were dry and sunny. The cooler January, February and March slowed ripening, and grapes were picked 14 to 20 days later than their usual date. Mendoza's crop reached 1.93 million tonnes, 6% up on 2010.

• Frost: 9 November 2010, severe in the lowest parts of Lujan and the Uco Valley, less so at higher elevations and in East Mendoza, though de la Mota said East Mendoza vineyards were also hit
• Rain: about 56 mm from October to December, normal for the period, then 137 mm from January to March at Perdriel (44, 83 and 10 mm)
• Hail: a year of scarce storms with little reported damage, though some vineyards suffered hail losses
• Harvest: 14 to 20 days later than usual for whites and reds; Mendoza 1.93 million tonnes, up 6% on 2010

Malbec was perhaps among the varieties most damaged by the November frost, but the overall drop in production was smaller than expected because the vine recovers or compensates. The zones spared by frost were uneven: some had fruit set problems and heavy millerandage, as in Malbec, that cut production sharply, while others yielded 20% or more above 2010. Average vineyard yields were higher than usual, as many producers skipped their usual thinning after the frost and hail losses, which also delayed ripening somewhat. Del Popolo expected wines from vineyards on stony or somewhat sandy soils to stand out over those on clay in this cool year, for their lower water retention. Beyond Mendoza, San Juan's harvest rose 17% on 2010, to 0.76 million tonnes, and a late frost there on 8 November after a Zonda affected table grapes and part of the high valleys.

• Frost districts: Perdriel, Agrelo and Ugarteche in Lujan; Tunuyan, La Consulta and El Cepillo in the Uco Valley
• Unaffected zones: either millerandage cutting Malbec production or yields 20% or more above 2010
• National: 2.88 million tonnes, 6% above the 2.7 million tonne average of the last five years
• Neuquen: somewhat warmer and more humid than usual, with ripening about a couple of weeks early, quite unlike Mendoza

Del Popolo expected Mendoza whites of very good aromatic intensity, fresh and with lively natural acidity, with Chardonnay from the Uco Valley standing out again as in 2010. For reds he called it an excellent year: deep colors, great aromatic intensity, a notable sweet-acid balance and ripe, round tannins, with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon standing out. Reds picked up to the end of April were intensely colored and very violet, led by floral notes and red fruit before riper black cherry and plum, with plenty of tannin, good acidity and medium to high alcohol; only very late picks went above 14.5%. Overall 2011 was a generally cool, damp year in which frost and hail caused some damage, so careful selection was required, and the coolness gave white wines particular aromatic intensity.

• Whites: fresh, aromatic, lively natural acidity; Uco Valley Chardonnay stands out
• Reds: deep violet color, fresh and intense aromas, good acidity, medium concentration, tannins very present
• De la Mota judged quality good to very good, and excellent for some zones and vineyards
• Del Popolo's 2017 summary for Jancis Robinson: "Good", rated ** (regular to OK)