2004 The classical vintage

2003 was a vintage of excess (very high temperatures, scarce rain fall), it produced extremely low yields.
2004 reminds one of Bordeaux’s usual oceanic climate.

The late but remarkable flowering was a promise of plenty grapes. Hot, but not excessively hot temperatures and regular rainfall followed during the summer months.

The excess production of later bunches was pruned end of July in order to reduce and balance final yields.
This operation enabled the wind to blow through the leaves, drying the berries naturally, helped maturation and kept rot at bay: Ideal conditions for perfect maturation.

The first lots to be harvested end September confirmed our initial decisions: summer tasks enabled grapes to reach good maturity and reasonable quantities. We bled the vats.

The Merlot parcels were harvested first (lasting exceptionally until mid-October), followed by the Cabernet Franc’s then the Cabernet Sauvignon’s.
The aromatic complexity of the wines is due to the slow and long maturation of grapes during summer, and their balance to August’s reasonable temperatures.

2004 is a good classical Bordeaux vintage, for those who managed to work around its flaws (dilution and lack of maturity).
Careful cellaring was necessary to help aromatic development, follow tannin evolution, and avoid premature aging.
Only one racking was necessary before bottling for most wines. Causse Rouge, Roc de Jean Lys, Manoir du Gravoux were bottled early, during summer 2005. For Les Cimes, La Violette, Les Laudes, during Spring 2006.

Traduction Laurie Matheson