2004 Willamette Valley / Oregon Vintage
A short crop, heat waves in July and August, then rain that postponed harvest and, in Argyle winemaker Rollin Soles's words, "turned out to be a godsend."
Late winter and early spring 2004 were exceptionally cool and dry, which kept the crop size down, and heat waves arrived in July and August. The McMinnville Degree Day total was 2404, against 2535 in 2003. In the Willamette Valley, grape sugars were peaking in late summer and harvest looked imminent, then cool, wet weather in late August and again in mid September postponed it, and harvest proceeded in fits and starts. About three inches of rain fell overall, with southern Oregon receiving less. Yields were down 10 to 60 percent in the Willamette Valley. Argyle winemaker Rollin Soles said the delay "turned out to be a godsend" because it let him get better acids and fruit flavors, and described the wines as crisp and pretty in a classic Oregon style. Wine Spectator graded the Oregon vintage B+.
Growing season
Late winter and early spring were exceptionally cool and dry, which kept the crop size down. The crop was short, owing to poor weather at set, the extreme temperatures of the prior vintage, and irregularities in vineyard growth. Yields were down 10 percent to 60 percent in the Willamette Valley. Heat waves arrived in July and August, and the McMinnville Degree Day total reached 2404, against 2535 in 2003. In the Willamette Valley, grape sugars were peaking in late summer and harvest looked imminent. Rains then came in late August and again in mid September, ahead of most vineyards' final ripening phase. About three inches fell overall, with southern Oregon receiving less. Harvest was postponed and then proceeded in fits and starts. Argyle winemaker Rollin Soles said "it turned out to be a godsend because we were able to delay harvest to get better acids and fruit flavors."
- Exceptionally cool and dry late winter and early spring held crop size down
- The short crop came from poor weather at set, the prior vintage's extreme temperatures and vineyard growth irregularities
- Yields fell 10 percent to 60 percent in the Willamette Valley
- Heat waves arrived in July and August, and the McMinnville Degree Day total was 2404, against 2535 in 2003
- Rain in late August and again in mid September totalled about three inches overall, with southern Oregon getting less
- Harvest was postponed by the wet weather and then ran in fits and starts
- Argyle's Rollin Soles called the delay "a godsend" for acids and fruit flavors
- Late winter and early spring were exceptionally cool and dry, which kept crop size down
- Heat waves arrived in July and August, and the McMinnville Degree Day total was 2404, against 2535 in 2003
- Rains came in late August and again in mid September, before most vineyards' final ripening phase, with about three inches falling overall
- Harvest was postponed by the cool, wet weather and proceeded in fits and starts
- Yields were down 10 percent to 60 percent in the Willamette Valley
- Argyle winemaker Rollin Soles said the delay "turned out to be a godsend" for acids and fruit flavors, and described the wines as crisp and pretty in a classic Oregon style
- Wine Spectator graded the 2004 Oregon vintage B+
Style and character
The Willamette Valley Wineries Association's own review calls 2004 properly plump and extracted, but with restraint. Average Brix was down 1 percent. That review places 2004 as almost an average of 2001, 2002 and 2003, with perhaps a little more variability in the reds and more structured, brighter whites similar to 2002. Rollin Soles described the wines as crisp and pretty in a classic Oregon style. Wine Spectator found bright black raspberry fruit in the Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs and pear and mineral qualities in the Chardonnays, and graded the Oregon vintage B+.
- The Willamette Valley Wineries Association calls 2004 properly plump and extracted, but with restraint
- Average Brix was down 1 percent
- The same review frames 2004 as almost an average of 2001, 2002 and 2003, with more variability in the reds and more structured, brighter whites similar to 2002
- Wine Spectator found bright black raspberry fruit in the Pinot Noirs and pear and mineral qualities in the Chardonnays, and graded the vintage B+
The Coravin Pivot+, for the bottle you won't finish tonight.
The simpler Coravin for wines you will finish inside a few weeks. Five seconds to use. $199.
See the Pivot+The corkscrew that opens most restaurant bottles.
The Pulltap's double-hinged waiter's key opens more bottles in restaurants than any other tool made, and it costs less than a glass of wine.$14.
See the Pulltap's- An exceptionally cool and dry late winter and early spring held 2004 crop size down, and yields were down 10 to 60 percent in the Willamette Valley.
- Heat waves came in July and August, and the McMinnville Degree Day total was 2404, against 2535 in 2003.
- Cool, wet weather in late August and again in mid September postponed harvest, which then proceeded in fits and starts; about three inches of rain fell overall.
- Argyle's Rollin Soles called the delay "a godsend" for acids and fruit flavors and described the wines as crisp and pretty in a classic Oregon style.
- The Willamette Valley Wineries Association's own review calls the wines properly plump and extracted but with restraint, with average Brix down 1 percent; Wine Spectator graded the vintage B+.
Take your wine study further
Flashcards, blind tastings, and a tasting journal in the Wine with Seth app.
Try the app free