Terrazas

The 2004 vintage has very distinctive features. It was longer than usual as the weather was very hot and dry in January and, as a result, white grapes were harvested one week in advance. It then became cooler in March and April. This caused a slower ripening of red grapes and, as a result, some Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards were harvested in the first two weeks of May.
This vintage was very good in terms of quality since it expresses its ripe fruit character. The wines of this vintage are also identified as very elegant, with great aromatic intensity and a long and velvety finish.

The 2005 vintage was characterized by low production, with good quality results for white wines and excellent harvests for red wines, in particular our Malbecs. A dry and cold winter was followed by a cool spring with regular flowering despite some initial November frost towards the south of Mendoza. Conditions were dry and cool from January through March, with scattered February rain, particularly in high elevations Chardonnay vineyards. The cool summer resulted in ripe fruit with fantastic color, intense aroma, and a nice acidity.

1997 was characterized by being particularly dry and mostly cool. The result was very good since production showed highly aromatic and flavor concentration.
In 1996, spring, the season when buds break and sprouts grow, was moderately dry and cool. Summer was warm and with scarce rainfall.
At the beginning of the season, in November and December, the grapes increased in size. In the warm January, when veraison takes place (the grapes turn red), thermal amplitude was high, it reached 16°C. This period is very important because not only does the grape change its color but it also turns its acids into sugars.
In February and March, the grapes continue ripening, losing acidity, accumulating sugars and developing polyphenols (components which add the typical red wine color, aroma and flavor).
Harvest was made by hand and the grapes were carried to the winery in 20 kg boxes. This ensured that the grapes arrived in excellent conditions. Chardonnay was harvested between March 15 and 24. Malbec harvest started on May 25 and ended in the estate in the second week of April. For Cabernet Sauvignon, harvest started on March 20 and ended in Los Aromos estate in mid April.

From a health standpoint, the 2003 harvest had an excellent agricultural cycle, favored by high temperatures and limited rainfalls.
Winter was cold and dry with abundant snowfalls in the high mountain. Spring was dry and sunny with average maximum temperatures 1 or 2ºC over historic records, which were due to the increased frequency of Zonda winds in the heights. There were some frosts and summer was warm and dry.
In January and February, temperatures were very high because a wave of heat settled in the region and affected a big part of the country and also the region of Mendoza.
In some places, temperatures were above the records for the past 20 years. In addition, there was a strong insolation and we had 19 days of 33°C.
This resulted in lower-weight clusters (as a result of dehydration) and, in some cases, sunburnt clusters.
These conditions allow good sugar concentration in the grapes and a significant alcohol potential and acidity decrease. To the end of the season, we obtained good polyphenol maturity.
White wines showed a very good aromatic expression, great fruit intensity, good structure and were pleasant and well-balanced in the mouth. These wines showed a well-defined expression of the variety.
Red wines had excellent chromatic shades, with great intensity, and powerful aromas of ripe red berries, as well as a good body, complexity and soft tannins.

The 2002 vintage can be considered exceptional for the red wines of the high area of Luján de Cuyo.
From budburst to veraison, this can be considered a normal year, with no frost problems and good number of vigorous buds. Flowering can also considered normal and veraison was highly consistent since it occurred when expected.
Summer temperatures were mild and only reached high temperatures in some days in December and January which resulted in well-balanced grapes.

This vintage was characterized by dry weather and average temperatures during budburst with no frosts. There were no frosts, not even in the coolest areas of Valle de Uco, such as Tupungato and, therefore, flowering was very consistent with uniform buds.
The vines flowered in late October, in the case of Chardonnay, and early November, in the case of Malbec. This period was a bit wet. In the spring of 2001, buds about 15 cm long were pruned and this reduced the number of grapes significantly (over 20% in some cases). This was particularly important for the grapes and wine quality. At the same time, certain stress was exerted on those plots of land with greater production potential and, this way, "nouesson" was limited. January was good and grape coloring was normal. Summer was wetter than usual and some December days were particularly warm. However, the increase in temperatures did not go over average temperatures. Ripening extended beyond two weeks in certain varieties and areas. However, this slow ripening allowed the grapes to be more balanced and with better quality flavors.
This was especially true for the Chardonnay harvested before the rains of late March and early April. Results were excellent for this variety, maybe with reduced quantities, but with great aromatic and flavor concentration and intense and complex fruit expression.
February was dry and warm, as the beginning of March. However, there were some rainfalls in late March and temperature was lower than average. From the first week of April until Easter, the weather was drier and the grapes harvested before April 14 were of good quality.
To sum up, in general, the 2001 vintage was of good quality. Anyway, there were great differences depending on the vineyards and areas. In those vineyards in which canopy tasks were carried out to improve ventilation and reduce production, especially in those cases in which irrigation was carefully managed (the Malbec areas of Vistalba Terrace was only irrigated twice during the summer) great quality was achieved with wines featuring good color, body and concentration. However, most part of the vineyards with no strict canopy and production management, irrigated without controlling the necessary stress, were attacked by Botrytis and the resulting wines were of medium quality.

In 1999, spring was quite cool and wet, summer started wet with a cool and rainy January. The beginning of the harvest was also cool and wet, but halfway through it, rains stopped and the presence of light dry and cool winds allowed growing high-quality grapes with aromatic and flavor concentration.
There were no high temperatures, so combustion of grape components was scarce, yielding fruit rich in constituents and aromas. Grapes were hand-harvested and carried in plastic boxes of 350 kg. Chardonnay was harvested between March 23 and 29. Malbec harvest started on May 28 and ended in the estate in the second week of April. For Cabernet Sauvignon, harvest started on March 27 and ended in Los Aromos estate in mid April.

In 1999, spring was quite cool and wet, summer started wet with a cool and rainy January. However, the harvesting months were dry and cool.
There were no high temperatures, so combustion of grape components was scarce, yielding fruit rich in constituents and aromas. The wines obtained were characterized by their great aromatic concentration, especially in the case of Cabernet Sauvignon.
The grapes were hand-harvested but carried in plastic 350 kg crates to allow for mechanical loading and unloading. Chardonnay was harvested between March 20 and 27. Malbec harvest started on May 27 and ended in the estate in the second week of April. For Cabernet Sauvignon, harvest started on March 23 and ended in Los Aromos estate in mid April.

The 2006 harvest was characterized by a cool spring, with no late frosts which could impact production. Strong warm winds, especially in the Uco Valley, blew in during blooming. The result was lower blooming of Malbec flowers which reduced this variety yields. From January to the end of the harvest, temperatures rose consistently and there was little rainfall, resulting in a vintage with very good sanitary levels. There was also ideal thermal amplitude from veraison to ripeness, favoring among others, vivid color intensity in red varieties. In the case of Malbec, wines had intense floral character and a marked ripe fruit expression. The Chardonnays showcased a high intensity of ripe fruits together with a good level of acidity. The Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot reached good maturity levels by the end of the cycle, with intense fruity aromas and extraordinary complexity.

2007 was very fertile for all varieties and good grape growth as a result of the favorable weather conditions in November during flowering. It was necessary to prune to achieve an adequately low production and reach the concentration level required for each segment of our wines. The season followed with moderate temperatures which did not exceed 25°C allowing for a long ripening process with no extreme temperatures which affected the aromatic potential of both white and red varieties. Rainfalls were strong in March and, for red varieties, put off their entry to the winery for a week. There were no sanitary problems as a result of the tasks performed on the vineyards, with a low yield per hectare and a good distribution of clusters.
In the case of Chardonnay, wines were quite intense in aromas and with a tropical fruit and citrus profile which adds freshness and tipicity. The Malbecs showed quite a distinct intense red fruit character which was very interesting which adds freshness and complexity even to the most concentrated and mature wines. Cabernet Sauvignons were highly spicy and with very good tipicity. All other varieties, such as Syrah and Merlot, showed very good ripening and intense color which resulted in wines with a strong personality.

In 2008, winter temperatures were very low and this resulted in a decrease in fertility for almost all varieties. There is a marked decrease in yields per hectare. As a result, the year was of very good quality and, practically, it was not necessary to prune the vineyards to achieve the necessary concentration.
Spring weather was good. Bud growth and flowering were good. In January and February, the weather changed, there were heavy rainfalls and temperatures were moderate. This resulted in a slight delay in harvesting time, as compared to the prior year. In the case of white varieties, rainfalls did not affect the quality of our wines, as they had been previously pruned with a good distribution of clusters to avoid rottenness. There were no rainfalls during the rest of the season which may affect health, and mild temperatures, which facilitated a long maduration process, resulted in high-concentration, character, and mature wines. Malbec was marked by red fruit and violets, very good aromatic intensity and amazing color. For Cabernet, this was a year in which slow ripening resulted in very aromatic wine, with a eucalyptus, spices profile and well-structured mouthfeel. In the case of Merlot and Syrah, wines were concentrated, mature and expressive. For white varieties, such as Chardonnay, these conditions of cool temperature and high relative humidity during the ripening period resulted in very aromatic wines marked by tropical fruit and citrus together with good maturity and complex character wines.