2012 Argentina (Mendoza) Vintage

The Mendoza season began with frost and strong Zonda winds, which reduced yields for most varieties except the late-flowering Cabernet Sauvignon. The spring frost came on 23 September and the strong Zonda during flowering on 8 November. Spring was normal and a little rainy toward the end, with around 100 to 150 mm falling in a short spell in November, and the vines budded late. Hot weather ran from December through February, then cool, cloudy conditions arrived from the second week of March, one of the coolest Marches on record. Grape maturation slowed and harvest was delayed to two weeks later than normal for many winemakers. The Mendoza harvest was 22% down on 2011 and 12% down on the historical average.

• Spring frost on 23 September; strong Zonda during flowering on 8 November
• November Zonda reached 100 km/h and 40 C, causing poor fruit set in sensitive varieties; some losses were expected in Malbec
• Hot December to February, then one of the coolest Marches on record from the second week of March
• Harvest two weeks later than normal for many winemakers; Mendoza harvest 22% down on 2011

The INV's December projection cited hail in the East and South of Mendoza, late frosts, and poor fruit set from Zonda winds in Mendoza and San Juan. The hail hit especially the east of the San Martin, Rivadavia and Junin departments, and some of the south in San Rafael. That projection put Mendoza at 18,171,266 quintals, 4.7% below 2011, San Juan at 6,045,063 quintals, down 23%, and Argentina at 25,132,274 quintals, 10% below 2011. By 8 April, INV data showed Mendoza had harvested 1,147,727,208 kilos of grapes, 41% behind the previous year with three weeks still to count, and a final figure expected very close to 20% down. In Mendoza, Viognier was down 28%, Syrah 17%, Sauvignon Blanc 9% and Chardonnay 8%, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Bonarda Argentina still unfinished and final shortfalls estimated at close to 30%. Beyond Mendoza, Salta had hail, heavy rain and cloudy weather into March, and Patagonia a harvest 10 days early with rain almost every week during harvest.

• East Mendoza hail: San Martin, Rivadavia and Junin, plus some of San Rafael in the south
• Mendoza to 8 April: 1,147,727,208 kilos harvested, average alcohol 13.63, 41% behind 2011
• San Juan to 8 April: 31.6% below the previous year, with the final figure expected close to 30%
• Salta: hail, heavy rain and cloud into March, then a warm, sunny April

Edgardo Del Popolo rated 2012 very good and called it a classic Mendoza warm vintage. Valley-floor vineyards with loamy or clay loam soils did very well, and the tannins were round and sweet. Santiago Achaval of Achaval-Ferrer said: "So what started out like 2009 is now finishing like 2011." Alta Vista owner Patrick d'Aulan called 2012 a "winemaker's vintage" and said his high-altitude, old-vine vineyards could sustain the longer hang time, adding: "I am feeling that the style of the wines will be more elegant and balanced, with less concentration."

• Del Popolo: very good; a classic Mendoza warm vintage; round and sweet tannins
• Valley-floor vineyards with loamy or clay loam soils did very well
• Alta Vista's Patrick d'Aulan expected more elegant, balanced wines with less concentration and warned of caution with extraction