2004 Rioja & Spain Vintage

Abundant winter rain and snow fell across the whole DOCa, well spread and heaviest around budburst, so the vines' water needs were fully covered. Low temperatures in March, April and the first half of May delayed the start of the cycle, but growth then resumed strongly and made up the lost time. There was no frost. At the end of April, primary buds were breaking at 100 percent, with abundant secondary budding and 1.2 to 1.8 bunches per shoot in red varieties and somewhat fewer in Viura. Fruit set finished at the end of June, cleanly in Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo and Viura and more irregularly in Garnacha. July was healthy, with suitable temperatures and no notable pest or disease pressure. Scattered storms kept the vines supplied with water, but in August the moisture was excessive in places and brought outbreaks of mildew and botrytis, mainly on young shoots, without significant consequence. Hail fell on 2 and 3 August, hitting about 1,250 hectares in several municipalities of the zona centro and alto Najerilla. Veraison began in the first week of August under below-normal temperatures and very marked day-night swings, which slowed ripening and left the cycle two to three weeks behind. From 1 to 10 September widespread rain storms with high temperatures and muggy air encouraged botrytis, with very uneven incidence depending on soil, aspect, variety and vineyard management. Then, from 11 September, an exceptional spell of fine weather lasted to the end of the harvest: sunny days, moderate daytime temperatures and cool nights under the prevailing north and northeast wind, which dried out the botrytis. Rain halted picking in Rioja temporarily on 17 October, and it then continued uninterrupted. The harvest ended on 9 November.

• Abundant winter rain and snow; cold March to mid-May delayed the cycle; no frost
• Hail on 2 and 3 August hit about 1,250 hectares in the zona centro and alto Najerilla
• Cool veraison with marked day-night swings put the cycle two to three weeks behind
• Rain and botrytis from 1 to 10 September, then fine weather from 11 September to the end of picking on 9 November

Picking started sporadically in Rioja Baja on 6 September and more widely from 15 September, then spread slowly and in stages across the DOCa. It became general in the Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa subzones in mid-October and finished on 9 November. Because ripening was slow and uneven, the harvest had to be selective, differentiated and patient, with grapes delivered by quota and picking lasting up to a month in many villages. More fruit than before was picked into boxes and sorted on tables. Vineyards with moderate yields, good airflow and healthy canopies did well, while high-yielding plots had bunches removed.

• Rioja Baja: picking from 6 September (sporadic) and 15 September (more widely)
• Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa: harvest general from mid-October; all picking finished 9 November
• Selective picking by quota, up to a month long in many villages, with more box picking and table sorting
• Traditional practices, moderate production and good canopy management fared well

The Consejo Regulador's official rating for 2004 is "Excelente" (Excellent). The first grapes picked had moderate alcohol potential and colour, suiting younger styles. Most of the crop, though, came in healthy, with correct sugar levels, good colour and good aromas, and the Consejo judged it very suitable for crianza wines. Decanter's vintage guide sums up the style as "Wines with high alcohol and concentrated colour and aromas ideal for ageing".

• Official rating: "Excelente" (Excellent)
• Early-picked grapes: moderate alcohol and colour, suited to younger styles
• Most of the crop: healthy, good colour and aromas, very suitable for crianza

John Radford described the mood across Spain as very upbeat in Decanter's harvest report of 31 October 2004. Most regions reported a "very good" harvest with healthy fruit, good sugar levels and full ripeness, and Rias Baixas and La Mancha both reported their best quality and biggest vintage ever. Catalunya, particularly Penedes, had a difficult cool and cloudy spell from 29 August to 15 September before the weather cleared. Radford judged that highland areas of the north such as Somontano, and areas south of Madrid, seemed to have done best. Spain-wide, the average crop seemed to be up by about 20 to 25 percent, without excessive yields per hectare.

• Spain-wide: harvest "very good" in most regions
• Rias Baixas and La Mancha: best quality and biggest vintage ever
• Penedes: cool, cloudy spell from 29 August to 15 September
• Spain-wide: average crop seemingly up by about 20 to 25 percent