Home Wine U The Buzz Wine Reviews   Review Archive   Rating System Calendar Fun Stuff About Us Key Contacts Search FAQ Links		2004 Vintage Wines Vintage Summary The 2004 growing season was one of the shortest in the history of the state. Harvest came two to three weeks earlier than usual, at the start of August. Crop yields were 6% less than the previous year. The 2.7 million tons crushed this year are reflective of a trend of decreasing yields (a trend resulting from the combination of climate variations and deliberate strategies on the part of vineyard managers to compensate for oversupply and increase increase quality). Statewide reports of light to normal yields of excellent quality fruit with superb extraction raised anticipation of the wines to come. It all started with a warm spring, progressed to a mild summer and ended with a burst of heat at the end. A warm spring made for an early start to the growing season. Fruit ripened slowly through the mild summer. The mid-September heat wave (with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees in some places) accelerated ripening. Vineyard workers were challenged to harvest before the fruit was overripe. In addition, the heat-boosted ripening resulted in increased must weight for some growers. There was some variation in the weather affecting the different growing regions of central California as there is each year. In some parts of Monterey, autumn rains came early. This was reported to slow ripening of Cabernet but did not affect quality. The Santa Lucia Highlands AVA in Monterey County did not report these rains. Instead, they had a smooth growing season with even crop development. In Arroyo Seco, the harvest came early as well and the growers did not have to contend with the threat of rain or cold spells. Throughout the Central Coast, moderate crop yields of highly promising wine grapes build anticipation of excellent Central Coast wines. In some places, the combination of reduced hang time and heat resulted in wines with awkward or unbalanced extraction and in others, the time on the vine was insufficient to allow the wines to develop complexity or full expression of the varietal. Variables in farming practices, winemaking techniques (particularly the heavy-handed approach to over-the-top extraction) cannot go unmentioned here as well. Back to top. 2004 Wines: 2004 Ampelos Cellars Syrache 2004 Au Bon Climat "La Bauge au Dessus" Pinot Noir 2004 Barreto Cellars Tempranillo, Lodi 2004 Barreto Cellars Tempranillo, Paso Robles 2004 Barreto Cellars Touriga, Lodi 2004 Barreto Cellars Vinho Tinto, California 2004 Barreto Cellars Verdelho, Lodi 2004 Byron Pinot noir, Santa Maria Valley 2004 Cambria Late Harvest Viognier, Tepusquet Vineyard, SMV 2004 Carmel Road Chardonnay, Monterey 2004 Carmel Road Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco 2004 Carmel Road Pinot noir, Arroyo Seco 2004 Casa Cassara  Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County   2004 Cima Collina Hilltop Red, Monterey County 2004 Clautiere Vineyard Estae Viognier 2004 Consilience Cabernet sauvignon, Camp 4 Vineyard 2004 Consilience Grenache, Santa Barbara County 2004 Consilience Ashley's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2004 Consilience Zinfandel, Mendocino County 2004 Daniel Gehrs Fireside Port, Amador County 2004 Escafeld Vineyards Petit verdot, San Antonio Valley 2004 Five Rivers Cabernet sauvignon, Paso Robles 2005 Five Rivers Merlot, Central Coast 2004 Foxen Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot noir: Block Eight 2004 Foxen Julia's Vineyard Pinot noir, Santa Maria Valley 2004 Foxen Late Harvest Viognier, Vogelzang Vineyard 2004 Hesperian Cabernet sauvignon, Harry's Vineyard, Coombsville, Napa 2004 JanKris Cabernet sauvignon 2004 JanKris Riatta, Paso Robles, Re-release 2004 JanKris Riatta, Paso Robles 2004 Jekel Cabernet sauvignon, Central Coast 2004 Jekel Merlot, Monterey County 2004 Kendall-Jackson Alisos Hills Syrah, Santa Barbara County 2004 Kendall-Jackson Camelot Highlands Chardonnay, SB County 2004 Labyrinth Pinot noir Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley 2004 Lucas & Lewellen Brut Sparkling Wine, Santa Barbara County 2004 Lucas & Lewellen Petit verdot, Santa Barbara County 2004 Lucia Pinot noir, Santa Lucia Highlands 2004 McKeon-Phillips Cabernet sauvignon, Bailey's Private Reserve 2004 Mandolina Metodo Classico Sparkling Wine, Santa Barbara County 2004 Marilyn Remark Wines, Petit sirah, Monterey County 2004 Melville Syrah, Estate - Verna's, Santa Barbara County 2004 Presidio Estate Pinot noir, Santa Barbara County 2004 Presidio Sangiovese, Santa Ynez Valley 2004 Queen of Hearts Merlot, Santa Barbara County 2004 Scheid Vineyards Merlot, Monterey County 2004 Stolpman Poetry in White 2004 Ventana Vineyards Pinot noir 2004 William James Cellars Roussanne 2004 William James Cellars Syrah, Santa Barbara County Back to top. Search our wine reviews archive by: review date, vintage and winery.			Get the buzz: Wine reviews Great stories Interviews Wine education tools New content every month It's FREE! Click here                       Get the buzz: Wine reviews Great stories Interviews Wine education tools New content every month It's FREE! Click here
	Home  |  Contact Us  |  About Us  |  Feedback  |  Search  |  Tell a friend Copyright © 2006-2007 redwinebuzz.com All rights reserved.