Domaine Chater


Vineyard Plan Location Calendar Winery 2004 Gallery Diary	2004 The early part of the year started off cold and wet, a complete contrast to 2003 (the hottest year on record) and by the end of April growth was somewhat behind schedule. At least this had the advantage that the vines were protected from any late frosts. Things changed dramatically in May and particularly in June when the weather warmed up considerably. There was no rain at all in June and temperatures ranged between 25 and 30 degrees celcius for most days. By the end of June the grapes had more than recovered from their late start with people now expecting an early harvest (although whether it will be as early as that of last year remains to be seen). There was some light rain at the very start of July and then a shock on the 7th when we had a short but violent hail storm with hail up to 2cm in diameter. This felt like an absolute disaster at the time and was further compounded by another (shorter) hailstorm on the 21st. However by the end of the month, assisted by the return of hot weather, the affected berries (less than 10%) were drying and falling off. Before the end of July the first berries of merlot were beginning to change colour. The weather in August has been terrible. Storms (a total of 112mm of rainfall) followed by warm humid spells. Ideal conditions for fungi that attack the grapes. Our sauvignon blanc grapes were affected (probably because of the previous hail damage) and we've had to take dramatic action to remove all the affected bunches. Yet another hailstorm strikes on the 23rd August but fortunately the damage is minor. We really need the warm (and rainless) weather to return in September. September started well. Hot with not too much rain and by the 9th September the average sugar level of our grapes reaches around 11% of potential alcohol. The good weather continued until the last week of the month, holding out long enough for us to harvest our sauvignon blanc parcels, starting on the 20th of the month. In the last week of September the rain returns yet again! The sauvignon blanc really have been difficult this year but we are really pleased with the aromatic quality of the crop - their potential appears good. Meanwhile though, with the return of the rain, things look grim for the red grapes. We enter October with a long way to go to reach any kind of maturity. For the first time this year we fall lucky with the weather. All around us people are harvesting their Merlot crops but we hold out in the hope of good weather - and it arrives! The first three weeks of October are sunny and dry with temperatures up to 26°C. The Merlot is harvested in three tranches on 2nd (the youngest vines), 6th and 11th (the oldest) of the month. The juice is of good quality with a potential alcohol level of almost 13.5%. We are particularly excited about the prospects for the oldest parcel of Merlot, the juice is intense and 'plummy'. We wait even longer for the Cabernet Sauvignon and at the start of the month their maturity seemed more of a vague hope than any kind of real possibility. Against the prospect imminent rain and a permanent decline in temperature we harvest on 25th and 26th of October. Botrytis was starting to affect the grapes (it spread remarkably quickly in absolutely no time) and our pickers were forced to be selective about what is sent to the winery (as for the white wines, hand-picking has proved invaluable this year). Again the juice seems to be of good quality, lacking herbaceous aromas that typify unripe cabernet sauvignon and with a potential alcohol level of 12%. Not at all bad.	Links: Read about our wines Pictures around the vineyard

2004

The early part of the year started off cold and wet, a complete contrast to 2003 (the hottest year on record) and by the end of April growth was somewhat behind schedule. At least this had the advantage that the vines were protected from any late frosts.

Things changed dramatically in May and particularly in June when the weather warmed up considerably. There was no rain at all in June and temperatures ranged between 25 and 30 degrees celcius for most days. By the end of June the grapes had more than recovered from their late start with people now expecting an early harvest (although whether it will be as early as that of last year remains to be seen).

There was some light rain at the very start of July and then a shock on the 7th when we had a short but violent hail storm with hail up to 2cm in diameter. This felt like an absolute disaster at the time and was further compounded by another (shorter) hailstorm on the 21st. However by the end of the month, assisted by the return of hot weather, the affected berries (less than 10%) were drying and falling off.

Before the end of July the first berries of merlot were beginning to change colour.

The weather in August has been terrible. Storms (a total of 112mm of rainfall) followed by warm humid spells. Ideal conditions for fungi that attack the grapes. Our sauvignon blanc grapes were affected (probably because of the previous hail damage) and we've had to take dramatic action to remove all the affected bunches. Yet another hailstorm strikes on the 23rd August but fortunately the damage is minor. We really need the warm (and rainless) weather to return in September.

September started well. Hot with not too much rain and by the 9th September the average sugar level of our grapes reaches around 11% of potential alcohol. The good weather continued until the last week of the month, holding out long enough for us to harvest our sauvignon blanc parcels, starting on the 20th of the month. In the last week of September the rain returns yet again!

The sauvignon blanc really have been difficult this year but we are really pleased with the aromatic quality of the crop - their potential appears good.

Meanwhile though, with the return of the rain, things look grim for the red grapes. We enter October with a long way to go to reach any kind of maturity. For the first time this year we fall lucky with the weather. All around us people are harvesting their Merlot crops but we hold out in the hope of good weather - and it arrives! The first three weeks of October are sunny and dry with temperatures up to 26°C. The Merlot is harvested in three tranches on 2nd (the youngest vines), 6th and 11th (the oldest) of the month. The juice is of good quality with a potential alcohol level of almost 13.5%. We are particularly excited about the prospects for the oldest parcel of Merlot, the juice is intense and 'plummy'.

We wait even longer for the Cabernet Sauvignon and at the start of the month their maturity seemed more of a vague hope than any kind of real possibility. Against the prospect imminent rain and a permanent decline in temperature we harvest on 25th and 26th of October. Botrytis was starting to affect the grapes (it spread remarkably quickly in absolutely no time) and our pickers were forced to be selective about what is sent to the winery (as for the white wines, hand-picking has proved invaluable this year). Again the juice seems to be of good quality, lacking herbaceous aromas that typify unripe cabernet sauvignon and with a potential alcohol level of 12%. Not at all bad.

2004

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