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HARVEST REPORT 2004
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 :
THRAKI
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 Ismarikos 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.
MAKEDONIA
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.
Αmynteo
:
This year the harvest was late in Amynteo. 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.
Εpanomi
:
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.
IPIROS
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.
THESSALY
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 Olympus 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.
CENTRAL GREECE
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.
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