Chianti Classico DOCG 2004 Vintage. See Chianti Classico DOCG.

2004 Growing season: ‘After the very hot 2003, 2004 seemed positively more regular. After a cool spring, which delayed budbreak and flowering, there were some substantial rains in May, which appeared to be a blessing as water reserves were replenished for what turned out to be a dry summer. September’s weather was one anyone would wish for with warm days and cooler nights with grapes maturing evenly while retaining acidity. A delayed harvest was envisaged and didn’t start before the end of September, in some instances even later, well into October. The resulting wines show fairly high levels of alcohol, but with enough substance and a ripe acidic core with lots of extract. The Consorzio of Chianti Classico initially gave it a four star rating out of five, but while the wines age this seems more and more a conservative assessment,’ (La Porta di Vertine 2007 vintage report from its website, 23 Dec 2013).