2005 Argentina (Mendoza) Vintage

Following a wet winter, spring was abnormally cool and wet. A late frost in the first week of November, in the middle of flowering, severely affected vines in the Uco Valley and cut yields dramatically; most growers reported crop reductions of 20 percent to 50 percent. February was rainier than usual, and a severe hailstorm that month hit the Perdriel area, wiping out production in many top vineyards, including Achaval-Ferrer's Finca Bella Vista. From mid-March through April, the Mendoza region then had 40 days of dry, warm weather. Some regions saw late frosts and surprise hail, but the summer brought slow, correct ripening. In the upper Mendoza River zone, the summer ran 3 to 4 C below the historical mean. Dominio del Plata's Pedro Marchevsky put picking at five to 10 days later than average. Mendoza establishments received 18,003,889 quintals of grapes, up 0.65% on 2004; nationally the harvest reached 28,297,115 quintals, up 6.74%.

• Spring: abnormally cool and wet; a late frost in the first week of November, mid-flowering, hit the Uco Valley
• February: rainier than usual, with a severe hailstorm in Perdriel
• Mid-March through April: 40 days of dry, warm weather in the Mendoza region

In the upper Mendoza River zone a surprise hailstorm struck, but the summer was exceptional, with sugar and acid balances seldom seen and anthocyanin levels well above earlier years; the INV called it an excellent vintage for most winemakers (translated). In the Uco Valley, a late frost changed the production forecasts and a benign summer lifted the region's natural quality, with the highest diurnal range of all Argentina's wine regions. The North oasis gave intense fruit aromas and lower alcohol, the East oasis ran a similar weather course to the North, and in the South oasis the summer's diurnal range brought very high color to the reds.

• Upper Mendoza River: surprise hail; Malbec, Merlot, Bonarda and Syrah stood out among reds
• Uco Valley: late frost changed production forecasts; highest diurnal range of Argentina's wine regions
• North oasis: intense fruit aromas and lower alcohol; Syrah, Tempranillo and Bonarda among reds
• South oasis: very high color in reds; Malbec, Merlot and Bonarda among reds

Wine Spectator reported that variable early-season weather lowered quality in earlier-ripening varieties such as Chardonnay and Merlot, while the dry, warm stretch from mid-March benefited Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. "This is a real Cabernet year," said Estella Perinetti, winemaker for Bodegas Caro. Despite the cooler conditions, the reduced crop let the vines ripen their fruit well. Paul Hobbs, partner in Vina Cobos, said, "There's no way you couldn't make great wines in 2005," then added, "Assuming of course, you had grapes." The 2004/2005 cycle was benign, with notable diurnal range, and the INV called the harvest one of excellent quality (translated).

• Early weather lowered quality in Chardonnay and Merlot; the late dry, warm spell favored Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon
• Upper Mendoza River: an exceptional year for reds to age, with a forecast of long life (INV, translated)
• Uco Valley: more varietal expression and aging potential; Cabernet Sauvignon with high color and tannic texture (INV)
• Argentina: a benign 2004/2005 cycle with notable diurnal range and a harvest of excellent quality