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As with last year the current vintage is not only very good in quantity but also in most regions in quality, too. The weather conditions were some of the best for an excellent vintage and now that the vinification has just begun it is only the fine treatment of the wine that remains.
The investments in technological equipment, the skill of our oenologists, the fine vinification procedures, and the passion of all the wine makers - these are the elements that have upgraded and pushed forward the Greek wine in the last few years, and are the guarantee of the quality of the final result of this year’s harvest, which will reach the consumer.
The expectations and the initial evaluations are for white wines full of vivacity and rich in flavour and for red wines with good body and deep colour.
A report is given below for each region:
Maronia: The harvest in the area of Maronia was late. This year the harvest began at least 15 days later than last year.
With the volume of production remaining steady, both Chardonnay and Syrah varieties, which will produce the Ismaric regional wine, have reached their best degree of maturity whilst keeping their acidity at a high level.
Chardonnay grapes were gathered with potential alcoholic content of 12,5% vol. and acidity of 7,5 gr./L, a fact that will give the production of Chardonnay 2004 a unique taste, complex flavours and the ability to resist becoming tired.
Naoussa - Goumenissa: The main characteristics were the late harvest, the continuous rain fall until June, the increased production and the rich foliage. It seems that the vintage for Xinomavro is good, while for the early harvest of Merlot and Syrah the results are expected to be excellent. The weather conditions were good until the harvest, having as a result the smooth technological and fenolic maturity of the grapes.
Amyndeo: This year the harvest was late in Amyndeo. Spring started with rainfall, while strong hail falls during May helped the development of mycological diseases, which were faced with systematic care. The result was a slight decrease of production but improved grape quality.
The white varieties of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, in accordance to the total acidity and this year’s baume, are expected to have fruity flavour and good acidities, while the varieties of Xinomavro, Merlot and Syrah are in good fenolic maturity.
Halkidiki: This year the harvest started on 24th August. This was 12 days earlier than in 2003. As usual, the variety of Sauvignon Blanc, which is used for the regional white wine of Halkidiki has started "the dance of this year’s harvest", followed by Assirtiko, Athiri, Rhoditis and Merlot.
The climatic conditions during the germination period of the vine were ideal. Relatively low temperatures occurred, while the number of useful rainfalls was increased compared with past years. Also the absence of high temperatures during the summer months was characteristic. The aforementioned conditions in combination with the proper implemented cultivating techniques has helped the grapes to reach their best maturity.
Mount Athos: In contrary to the rest of Halkidiki area the conditions at Metochi Chromitsa of Mount Athos were the standard of the area, where the climate is always hot and dry, a fact that has helped the biological cultivation, which has been followed here for several years.
In this way, the white varieties of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay have matured slightly later than last year, while Athiri and Assyrtiko started their way to the winery on the 1st of September like last year.
In the middle of September the first grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon reached the winery. Here, too, the potential for rich colour, the excellent quality of tannins and the low production per stremma (600 Kgs/stremma) are all promising wines of high quality.
Côtes de Meliton: The harvest started on 23rd August and finished on 4th October. The excellent climatic conditions during winter and spring, the microclimate of the area and the precautionary tests of biological plant protection have positively influenced the production and also the quality.
This year the white grape varieties having an alcoholic degree of 12,5 % will give wines of excellent quality, while the red varieties having 13 % vol. will present red wines with good aging ability.
Epanomi: The viniculture year of 2004 was normal for the area of Epanomi. In contrary to previous years, the sufficient rainfalls and snows during the winter very much helped water collection of the area.
The winter was wetter than average and this helped the correct structure of the grapes. The spring was relatively wet and helped the correct grape development. From the beginning the production seemed to be very good, more than 1000 Kgs/stremma. Many producers have done what we say "Green harvest" by throwing down grapes, before they were matured, so as to decrease the average production per stremma and keep it to less than one ton per stremma, in this way improving the quality. The weather during summer was cool with low night temperatures, which favoured the fenolic grape maturity. The harvest started on 19th August with the white varieties of Malagousia, Chardonnay and Assyrtiko and continued until the beginning of September, when the harvest of the red varieties of Merlot and Syrah began. These show big extracts of their fenolic elements (colour and tannins), and the wines have sufficient body and excellent quality like last year.
Drama: The summer was gentle in the Drama area, without great heat or sudden rainfalls, a fact that helped good and relatively early grape maturity. The harvest started on 18th August with the white varieties of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semmillion and ended with the red varieties of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo and Agiorgitiko. All tests show an excellent quality.
Zitsa: The summer was cool. The Debina variety has contributed to the production of white wines with a freshness and unusual aromatic character. The quality of the wines is excellent.
Metsovo: The harvest at Metsovo was late - 20-30 days later than in 2003. This was due to the coolness during the spring, which delayed the budding of the vines. The summer passed with gentle temperatures, while September and October helped the slow but sufficient maturity of grapes. The grape-loads of vineyards were slightly decreased compared with those of 2003 and were at an average production of 450-500 Kgs/stremma.
The white wines were particularly aromatic, due to the slow maturity, with very good alcoholic degree (12,5% Vol) and very good acidity.
All the elements until now show that the white wines of 2004 will be more aromatic compared with those of previous years. The red wines have deep red colour, with alcoholic degree over 12,5% vol., intense fruitiness and good tannins. The general impression is that after the necessary maturity in the barrel and in the bottle, these wines will produce a vintage in 2004 that will be remembered for several years.
Rapsani: 2004 could be considered as one of the best years for the Rapsani area. The initial difficulties due to the cool and rainy spring were overcome relatively easy. A determining factor was the special microclimate of the area, which is protected from the north by Olympos mountain, while from the east it enjoys the salutary breeze of the Aegean sea.
These conditions have positively influenced the quality of the grapes, as they have caused a natural decrease in the grape load of vines, which in combination with the weather conditions obtained from the beginning of the summer and until the harvest, gave an unprecedented result.
The intense sunlight without intense heat, the minimum but very beneficial and on time rainfalls contributed to a slow but full maturity of the grapes.
This in combination with the great temperature difference between day and night in the area gave the grapes a rich aroma, colour and taste. The VQPRD Rapsani of 2004 is expected to have deep red colour with a bouquet of concentrated rich and fine aromas, strong, tense, full body and the smoothness of healthy and matured grapes.
Attica: Rainfalls started in the spring and were at regular intervals until the harvest, which was late. The production was increased compared with last year, while the condition of the grapes was good and healthy.
Particularly in West Attica the harvest started on 28th August with Chardonnay and then Merlot, Assyrtiko, Syrah, Grenache Rouge and Rhoditis followed. Savatiano was the last one gathered, having a very good balance of acids and sugar compared with previous years. White varieties are expected to give rich balanced and aromatic wines, while in the red varieties the high fenolic maturity in combination to the increased sugar level will give wines of deep intense colour, full rich body and great aging ability.
Fthiotida: This year’s harvest in the area of Fthiotida and specially in the Locrida viticulture zone is of exceptional quality. Although the temperatures were very low during winter, the vicinity with the sea helped to avoid problems. The intense rainfall during the spring created a wet reserve, which was proved useful. The breezes and the correct precautionary facing of the phenomenon by the vine growers protected the vineyards from the early white rust. In the summer unusual low temperatures during night occurred, which kept the environment cool and contributed to the late harvest. The harvest conditions were very favourable, and resulted in wines of high acidity, but simultaneously of high degree. The international red varieties Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet and from white varieties the Chardonnay showed remarkable results.
Viotia: This year’s harvest in the area of Viotia resulted in low quantity production, whilst the quality was excellent. Increased rainfall during the spring occurred, creating high moisture levels and furthermore resulted in the occurrence of white rust problems for the vine growers.
The wine makers who faced this phenomenon precautiously, limited the damage with a decrease of quantity, but to the benefit of quality.
The winemakers who did not manage to react properly, due to bad weather conditions, suffered great damage to their grapes and were compensated for this.
The summer period, which followed, as well as the harvest were normal with favorable conditions. This is a vintage of high quality results.
Achaia - Patras: The grape production in the zone of VQPRD Patras is gathered by selective semi-mountainous communities.
Here, too, the harvest started 15 days later. The production was increased by 15% compared with last year. The healthy condition of the grapes was very good.
Côtes de Egialias: The viticulture zone of "Côte de Egialias" is characterized by a sufficient altitude of its vineyards, which are north-facing.
The harvest was 10-15 days late compared with last year and this delay remained until the end of this year’s harvest.
During summer there were not intense and high temperatures, a fact that in combination with the lateness of this year’s harvest produced white wines of improved aroma and higher acidities, while the red wines were not able to succeed their highest fenolic richness, especially those of the higher altitude. The total average quantity of production was slightly increased (3-4%) and the grapes were of excellent condition.
Nemea: The harvest took place between 27th September - 21st October. The harvest in the viticulture zone of Nemea was unusual and full of unexpected occurrences. A wet winter was followed by a cool spring with much rainfall which resulted in approximately 20 days blooming delay. The summer was relatively dry with low temperatures, especially during the nights. The unusual low temperatures that occurred during September, resulted in a considerable delayed vintage, with very slow maturity of the grapes. Some of the vineyards never came to the full technological maturity, leading in this way to relatively low alcoholic level. However, in spite of the low technological maturity, an unusually high fenolic maturity for the Nemea area occurred, resulting in wines of intensive deep colours and special strong and characteristic varietal aromas.
The harvest of 2004 for Nemea was difficult, of "Burgundian" character. For another time the choice of grapes proved to be the key to success.
Mantinia: The spring frost influenced a small number of vineyards in the area. The high level of rainfall with a good distribution during the year gave the vines sufficient water. The normal temperatures guaranteed high aromatic possibilities. The harvest was very late and the sugar level in the must was at the limit. The healthy condition of the grapes was very good.
Santorini: Harvest period 12-25 August. This year’s harvest in the viticulture area of Santorini was normal without particular difficulties. A wet winter producing a sufficient water level, helped the development of healthy shooting of vine stock. This, in combination with a cool spring, without winds protected the sensitive buds, and led to a year of rich production. Indeed, the harvested quantities were bigger than last year, approaching unusual average production level of 600 Kgs/stremma.
The proportionally low temperatures during the summer delayed somewhat the harvest, but not too much to be considered as a late harvest. This slight delay resulted in the gentle maturity of the grapes having direct effect on the technical and organoleptic characteristics of this year’s wines. So, in comparison with previous years’ harvests, we foresee the production of more "conventional" wines, with low mineral character, high ph and obviously more fruity character. We generally consider this year’s harvest as interesting, although it was atypical.
Samos: The weather conditions were favorable for the normal maturity of the grapes. Especially the cool summer contributed to the normal development of the maturity and the expected character of the wines will be excellent.
The xerophytic cultivation, the configuration in terrace and the low production average per stremma have contributed the most to the quality and the aromatic character of the wines. The production this year is slightly increased compared to last year.
Limnos: It is considered a particularly good year. The maturity was normal, considering the adequate conversion of acids to sugar. To this result helped favorably, too, the seldom experienced rainfalls which occurred at the beginning of August. The well known quality results expected from the vinification of the local Moschato Alexandrias variety of the island, are expected. The production was 50 % less than usual.
Rhodes: The normal climatic conditions of the spring with the necessary rainfall and the exceptional cool summer was conducive to the normal maturity, which depending on the variety sometimes exceeds 12,5 % baume and had excellent quality, due to the care taken by the vine growers. The harvest began on 30th August, approximately 10 days late, with the varieties of Moschofilero, Trani and Athiri. This year’s production was approximately 25 % more than last year.
Paros: The weather conditions have influenced positively the development of the grapes’ maturity. The cultivation practices have not been changed from the past years. The production is increased by aprox. 40 % and the quality of the grapes is very good.
Crete: The climatic conditions during winter with sufficient rainfall, in combination to the occasional rainfall during the spring, allowed for the normal shooting of the vines. Specific attacks of white rust, mostly during May, were successfully faced on time and they have not become an epidemic. During the summer the lack of rainfall and the normal levels of temperature contributed to the excellent health condition of the grapes. The harvest was late for all the grape varieties, while the production is considered higher compared with the 2003.
From the fist organoleptic tests of the wines, we noted that their characteristics were excellent. The aromatic intensity and the complexity of the Vilana variety wines, as well the rich structure of the red wines support the idea that the harvest of 2004 will be one of the best of the recent decade.
Cephalonia: The sufficient rainfall during winter, the dry and cool summer resulted in grapes of excellent quality. The development of the grapes’ maturity was normal and under very good conditions. The production was normal for the island.
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