Vegetative growth from September to December was excellent, driven by higher-than-average rainfall and strong water reserves from the previous cycle. These conditions produced a large, well-exposed canopy that enhanced the accumulation of sugars and polyphenols. In January, rainfall dropped by 63% compared to normal, further improving ripening conditions. February brought average rainfall, but March saw an 89% deficit relative to the twenty-year average—allowing late-ripening red varieties to remain longer on the vines, resulting in wines deeply concentrated in anthocyanins and polyphenols.

Harvest began on February 3 with Sauvignon Blanc and concluded on March 26 with Cabernet Sauvignon of outstanding maturity. High-end Tannats were picked in the second half of March, ten days later than usual, with fully ripened seeds in harmony with pulp and skin maturity, producing perfectly balanced wines. The 2004 vintage will be remembered for its exceptional age-worthy wines—most notably our *Familia Deicas Preludio Barrel Select 2004*.