Once again the season started well after good winter rains followed by a mild to warm spring and early summer, being perfect weather for flowering and set. January was cool to mild and subsequently the ripening season began well until mid February when there were many successive days up to the mid to high 40s.
With careful irrigation management, most vineyards survived well and with the avoidance of the sunburnt / raisined fruit, especially in the Riesling, final wine quality was not affected. Shiraz was solid in 2004, with dense red fruit and spice coupled with fine long tannins.
