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In the 2004 vintage, above average snowsfalls and, later, regular rainfalls contributed to having water always sufficiently available/sufficient water reserve until the early summer. Thus the plants could produce leaves and grapes copiously. This meant additional work with the canopy management, as well as with the cluster thinning-out. We had to thin out up to three times per vineyard in order not to exceed the desired yield of about 3.000 pounds/acre. The optimal ripeness dragged on into October. In order to prevent an attack of Botrytis caused by the morning dew, in all the vineyards the leaves around the clusters were removed. In Chianti Classico the harvest began with Merlot at the end of September and ended up with Cabernet Sauvignon in the second week of October. The long ripening period offered us not only sufficient sugars, but also an abundance of flavours, colour and tannins.
In Maremma the natural water regime was perfect for our vines. The usual water stress had not taken place. The grapes had been able to develop optimally and have a balanced maturation. The harvest began at the end of August and finished four weeks later with Sangiovese. The 2004 vintage was very labor intensive, but the “additional work” was paid back 1:1 by the grape quality.
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