In contrast with 2003, the year 2004 can be considered as a normal year considering the sum of temperatures (4297 °C), and with a number of strong heat days less than in 2003 (59 for 2004, and 92 in 2003). But an increasing number of shiny days during the vegetative period of the vine (+ 7% compared to a normal year), precipitated the budbreak and blossoming of 10 days regarding the previous year.

The strong rain falls of August (100 mm of water between August and September) allowed the vine stock to be hydrated et nourished during the veraison. September was dry and windy and therefore helped obtaining very good phenolic maturation at harvesting time.

A large number of fresh nights (less than 15°C during 10 nights) in August contributed to keeping the acidity of the grapes and the concentration of the colour. Since August was dry and windy (10 days of mistral), the grapes were highly concentrated and had a technological maturity.

Thanks to these excellent maturities, the Grenaches were of a deep purple colourful robe, with bluish reflections. They have jammy, black berries, red fruit, fruit in brandy notes, and nearly always liquorice aromas.

The production of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in 2004 was a less than the ten-year average of 102.000 hectolitres, since only 95.000 hectolitres were produced, 89.000 hl in red and 6 000 hl in white. The yield was of 30 hl / ha in average for the entire appellation. This low yield contributed to enhance even more the quality of the 2004 vintage.

2004 is a year of terroirs and high quality. The vintage is very promising and will greet fittingly the 70th anniversary of the creation of the Appellation of Origin National Institute (I.N.A.O.) in 2005. A great number of event will celebrate this anniversary, starting with festivities linked to Châteauneuf-du-Pape Saint Marc contest, at the end of April.

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