The 2004 vintage is the result of a generous harvest which, thanks to rigorous management, made it possible to bring in healthy, fully ripe grapes. It should never be forgotten that a good wine can only be produced from good fruit. A superb bunch picked at just the right moment holds every promise for a good wine and facilitates the wine-maker’s task.
Generally speaking, 2004 produced a rich, deep-coloured wine with a substantial tannic texture, offering a great cellaring potential.
We are already well into 2005. We are just 4 months from the harvest, which promises to be early this year. Flowering is all but complete even if it took some time. There has been a somewhat unusual alternation between hot and cool weather with a shortage of rainfall, but for the time being the vines do not appear to be suffering. Vines are resistant plants which in fact can and must suffer to give their best
The bunches have been formed perfectly normally but there is no need as yet for any crop thinning. That will be decided on within the next few days.
The work required at this point includes:
> control of the vegetation (lifting and clipping).
> treatment (with sulphate).
> ploughing or tillage depending on the type of management adopted.
In the cellars, the usual operations involved in the ageing of the wine continue (ullage, racking) together with the initial bottling of the 2003 premium wines.
On the commercial scene, the en primeur sales of the 2004 continue in a very reasonable atmosphere despite the uncertainties of the market.
A major world event for business relations and sales is scheduled to be held in Bordeaux from June 19 to 23, namely VINEXPO. Everyone involved in wine the world over should be there or be talking about it..
Watch this space for more news later.