2004 Argentina (Mendoza) Vintage

In the Upper Mendoza River zone a dry winter with temperatures below 0 C gave way to a dry spring with some Zonda winds and an intense, dry summer, with air coming in from Argentina's southeast in February and March. In the Uco Valley spring and summer were warm and dry, with several days of Zonda wind. The East oasis had a dry spring, then a summer with many high-temperature days and rain in February and March, and the South oasis had a dry, warm spring and summer, with Zonda wind and some late-summer rain that did not compromise grape quality. Across Argentina a dry winter was followed by a warmer-than-usual spring, which allowed good budbreak and healthy fruit set, and the season stayed very dry and warm throughout. The Zonda caused some damage to vine canopies, though most growers had healthy grapes and yields in line with previous vintages. Despite the warmth, grapes did not reach full ripeness until late, light rains in mid-March freshened the vines and extended hang time, while heavier rains at the end of the harvest made late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon more erratic. Nationally, grape health was very good, disease appeared only in isolated cases and grape production rose on 2003, to a total harvest of 26,509,729 quintals; Mendoza's vineyards supplied 17,750,180 quintals.

• Spring: dry in the Upper Mendoza River zone, the Uco Valley, the East and the South, with Zonda wind in the Upper Mendoza River zone, the Uco Valley and the South
• Rain: a very dry, warm season, then late, light rains in mid-March that helped grapes ripen fully; rain in February and March in Mendoza's East oasis
• Crop: Argentina 26,509,729 quintals, up on 2003; Mendoza vineyards 17,750,180 quintals; yields in line with previous vintages for most growers

A report by the enology graduates' center CLEIFRA judged Mendoza's 2004 vintage very good in quality, with intensely red-colored reds and whites of very good aroma and structure from days of abundant sun. In the North oasis the warm climate favored higher alcohol. The Upper Mendoza River zone gave wines of superior quality, with intense floral and red fruit notes, ripe tannins and plenty of alcohol, with Bonarda, Malbec, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon standing out. In the Uco Valley the area's characteristic thermal amplitude secured color in red grapes and perfume in whites, giving a very good harvest for quality wines, especially Malbec, Merlot, Tempranillo and Bonarda, and sparkling bases of marked quality from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The East oasis gave very aromatic whites, notably Chenin, Sauvignon Blanc and Torrontés, and the South oasis a vintage of very good quality, mainly in reds from Malbec, Merlot and Syrah. Outside Mendoza, a frost struck the Middle Valley of Río Negro at the end of October.

• Upper Mendoza River zone: wines of superior quality, with ripe tannins and rich in alcohol
• Uco Valley: a very good harvest, especially for Malbec, Merlot, Tempranillo and Bonarda, plus Chardonnay and Pinot Noir sparkling bases
• East and South oases: very aromatic whites in the East; very good quality in the South, mainly Malbec, Merlot and Syrah

In June 2004 Wine Spectator's James Molesworth found Argentina's top producers enthusiastic about quality after a growing season of excellent weather. Despite some late rains, Malbec was harvested under predominantly favorable conditions. Santiago Achával, owner of Achával-Ferrer, told the magazine: "It's in the neighborhood of 2002 and 2003," adding, "But it is still too early to be sure." Hélène Garcin of Poesia, a new winery in Mendoza, said that around 15 March the skins and seeds were not ripe and the tannins were dry, but "the rain after the 15th completely turned the situation around." Roberto de la Mota, then working with Bodegas Terrazas de los Andes, described "very well-structured Malbec, with better ripening and concentration than [that of] 2003." Merlot and Syrah gave good results, and among whites Susana Balbo of Dominio del Plata said Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Torrontés and Chenin all stood out.

• Malbec: "No doubt Malbec is going to be the best," said Andrea Marchiori, viticulturalist for Viña Cobos and Dolium
• Cabernet Sauvignon: more erratic after heavier rains at the end of the harvest; good results from Merlot and Syrah
• Comparison: Wine Spectator's report judged that quality may be comparable with the excellent 2002 and 2003 vintages