Medoc/Graves - 2004

Some lovely balanced wines already highly enjoyable. Not big, but stylish.

The weather returned to a more typical pattern after the excesses of 2003. The harvest was nearly a month later but more in keeping with the norm. A dry, sunny June assisted with a swift and uniform flowering. Temperatures for July, August and September were above the 30-year average while sunshine hours were below (but on a par or better than 2001 and 2002). Rainfall was consistent for the region and without surfeit except for the 71mm that fell in August putting initial doubts over the potential of the year. A relatively warm, dry sunny spell through September and early October compensated. The merlot was mainly harvested in ideal conditions 1st-8th October. Intermittent rain from 11th October hampered the cabernet harvest.