Burghound (93)

The difference between Chambertin and Clos de Bèze is sharply etched in as this is cooler, bigger, richer and more powerful though less elegant and with a more limited range of spices specifically and aromatic breadth in general. The medium full flavors are reserved, tight, precise and very pure with extraordinarily good punch and precision, all wrapped in a firm, dusty and linear finish. I particularly like the mouth coating quality of the flavors as there is ample dry extract here, which serves to perfectly buffer the firmly tannic spine. Outstanding stuff and while not a truly great Rousseau Chambertin, it's knocking on the door.

Burghound (92)

An equally fresh if perhaps not quite as ripe nose of red fruit and mineral-infused aromas of surpassing complexity introduce delicious, intense and slightly firmer medium full flavors that culminate in a subtly persistent finish. This is refined and exceptionally pure and while it is on the lighter side, the focus, detail and precision is extremely impressive. Like the Ruchottes, this trades on elegance and refinement yet there is no lack of flavor authority despite the absence of raw size and weight.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92-95)

Very good deep red. Much less expressive today than the Suchots, hinting at black raspberry and vanillin oak. Then dense and sappy in the mouth, with dark berry and spice flavors offering terrific vivacity. Broad, palate-coating wine without any impression of heaviness. Finishes with sweet tannins and excellent length.

Savour the exquisite complexity of the Auvenay Auxey Duresses Les Clous Blanc 2004, a paramount exemplar of French viticulture finesse. Produced in the prestigious Burgundy region, this white wine is the brainchild of Madam Lalou Bize-Leroy, an acclaimed maestro in biodynamic farming and eloquent wine crafting. The Auvenay label is distinguished globally, exemplifying an unrivalled standard in winemaking. The vineyard enjoys a premium location that affords it an idyllic microclimate and lean limestone soils, nurturing its Chardonnay grapes.

This vintage boasts a beautiful golden hue with an expressive bouquet that stimulates the senses with nuances of ripe yellow fruits, citrus, blooming flowers and a touch of oak. On the palate, the wine reveals a splendid balance of richness, vibrant acidity and a lingering minerality on the finish. Experience the exceptional depth and elegance of the Auvenay Auxey Duresses Les Clous Blanc 2004 - a vintage that has truly blossomed into its prime and a true jewel of Madam Lalou's vinous treasures.

Hailing from the esteemed terroirs of Burgundy, Auvenay Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2004 is a phenomenal testament to French winemaking mastery. It is the brainchild of Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy, owner of Domaine Leroy, who meticulously oversees every aspect of production, employing biodynamic principles to ensure authenticity and quality.

The wine embodies rarity; its limited run speaks of a precision-focused approach, yielding exquisite Chardonnay grapes. The Grand Cru vineyard, stationed in Côte de Beaune, is renowned for its brilliant white wines, lending a distinct, extraordinary character to this vintage.

Upon pouring, the Auvenay Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2004 reveals an elegant, light golden hue, while its palate mesmerises with an exceptional balance of fruitiness, minerality, and acidity. Subtle nuances of almond, honey, and vanilla punctuate the tasting experience, alongside a persistent, delightful finish.

Whether savoured solo or paired with refined dishes, the Auvenay Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2004 transcends mere satisfaction, offering a sublime journey through one of Burgundy's finest expressions.

Vinous (90)

We start with a side-by-side comparison of Bollinger’s 2002 and 2004 Vieilles Vignes Françaises, one of my favorite Champagnes. The 2002 is spectacular, as it always is. Rich, warm and resonant, the 2002 covers the palate with seemingly endless layers of burnished, honeyed fruit and the most finessed, subtle mousse imaginable. I don’t see the 2002 making old bones, but it is flat-out great tonight. The 2004, on the other hand, is disappointing. More advanced in its flavors and with quite a bit less structure than the 2002, the 2004 is already maturing and needs to be enjoyed sooner rather than later.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 2004 Barolo Bricco Boschis tastes just like it did from barrel, which is to say sweet, layered and totally irresistible. The ripe red fruit is incredibly primary, and this wine is years away from offering its finest drinking, but it is already very impressive at this stage. This is an especially refined, elegant vintage for this wine, and I can only say that I await the Riservas with eager anticipation. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

The flagship of the Clarendon Hills line, this comes from a patch of 80-year-old vines that winemaker Bratasiuk claims routinely provides his best fruit. The 2004 is a stunner, yielding up scents of flowers and spice, framed by hints of vanillin oak. It's dense and amply textured in the mouth, packed with wonderfully expressive blackberry and blueberry fruit, then shows layers of rich tannins on the finish that leave no doubt this needs time in the cellar to show its best. This is a tour de force of Australian winemaking that should be consumed 2010-2025.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90-93)

Very ripe peach and nuts on the nose. Then ripe but dry on the palate, with a concentrated peach flavor complicated by steely minerality and firmed by lively acids. Ultimately quite penetrating and light on its feet, with excellent fruit intensity and cut.

LaRVF (95)

Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair La Romanée Grand Cru 2004

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (91-94)

From young vines: Aromas of lemon oil and vanilla. Sweet flavor of orange oil. Nicely bright but shows only moderate depth. Finishes persistent if a bit skinny. From old vines: Pure aromas of orange and stone. Wonderfully intense and perfumed in the mouth; at once broad and juicy, with terrific fruit. Finishes with excellent thrust and superb length. There's a big difference between these two lots, but the final blend should be excellent.

Indulge in the exquisite d'Auvenay Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres 2004. Hailing from the prestigious French vineyards of Puligny-Montrachet, it's cultivated under the seasoned stewardship of Domaine d'Auvenay. Acute attention to detail ensures only the finest Chardonnay grapes are harvested, manifesting an unmatchable portrayal of Burgundy's celebrated terroir. This 2004 vintage encompasses the winery's diligent commitment, exhibiting a golden hue, elegant minerality, and voluptuous notes of exotic fruit layered with hints of caramel and honey.

Maturation in new oak barrels bestows a refined complexity and depth to this splendid wine. Acclaimed wine critic, Robert Parker, celebrates its beautifully balanced acidity, identifying it as one of the exceptional offerings from Domaine d'Auvenay. The d'Auvenay Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres 2004 saturates the palate with a lasting impression, exuding an undeniably rich and enticing allure. A spectacular addition to any discerning wine aficionado's collection.

Wine Advocate (92+)

The 2004 Dom Pérignon is from a classic vintage and a very generous year in terms of yields. White-golden in color, the clear, discreet and subtle nose gives way to dried white rather than yellow fruits, raisins and hazelnuts, as well as to floral and herbal aromas. Less generous and concentrated in the mouth than the 2005 and austerely dry at the moment, the 2004 shows its great finesse and characteristic minerality. There should be a better point of time to praise its class, so trust and keep it!

Vinous (98)

The 2004 Montrachet is a wine of pure and total precision. Bright floral notes add striking perfume to a Montrachet that dazzles with crystalline purity, silkiness and a gorgeous sense of transparency. The purity of the flavors is striking, but even more than that, the 2004 offers unreal beauty and finesse, along with the balance to drink well for many years to come. Tasted at the Los Angeles DRC Montrachet vertical.

Wine Enthusiast (95)

A delicious, flowery, aromatic wine. The flavors float around the firm core of fine tannins, plum skin and fig flavors, combining with acidity and leaving an impression of delicacy, yet also great aging potential.

Wine Advocate (91)

Another sleeper of the vintage for this property that has been doing impressive work over recent vintages, the 2004 (a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot) displays a dark ruby/purple color along with classic aromas of cedar, creme de cassis, earth, spice, and wood. Medium to full-bodied, ripe, long, and impressively endowed, it should be at its peak between 2010-2022.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (88-90)

Good deep red. Strawberry, flowers, pepper and pencil lead on the nose. Silky on the palate but a bit tighter than the Combottes, with enticing balance. The peppery nuance carries through in the mouth. Here the tannins are noticeable, though, even a tad dry. This may get a fining, says Jeremy.

Wine Spectator (97)

Shows a very ripe nose, with rose, berry and hints of meat. Full-bodied and powerful, with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Massive yet balanced. What a wine. The greatest Saffredi ever made. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Alicante. Better than previously reviewed. Best after 2012. 1,750 cases made. -JS

Vinous (91)

Medium red. Intense cherry, red berry and tapenade scents, with a complicating garrigue character. Pure, racy and fresh, showing an energetic quality and precise raspberry and wild strawberry flavors. Finishes bright and long, with a tangy lingering mineral note.

An embodiment of provenance and artistry, the Fonsalette Cotes Du Rhone Syrah 2004 emanates the finest spirit of the Rhone Valley. Carefully crafted by Emmanuel Reynaud of Chateau Rayas, this illustrious Syrah was produced with meticulous care in Fonsalette, a vineyard region celebrated for its unique terroir. The Fonsalette Cotes Du Rhone Syrah 2004 was matured in old oak, reinforcing its abundant fruit profiles with generous layers of spice and earthy undertones.

This vintage radiates a lavish bouquet -exuding ripe cherries, plums and blackberries, interwoven with warming notes of star anise, cedar, and tobacco leaf. On the palate, it is harmoniously composed, testifying opulent fruitiness juxtaposed against well-integrated, supple tannins, rousing to a remarkable finish. Renowned globally for creating wines of exceptional depth and structure, Emmanuel Reynaud upholds his reputation with Fonsalette Cotes Du Rhone Syrah 2004, a true testament to his winemaking prowess.

Halliday Wine Companion (94)

Dense stygian colour; top example of a full-bodied McLaren Vale loaded with blackberry fruit and dark chocolate, yet not hot or heavy; good extract and oak.

Wine Advocate (98)

Still looking fresh and complete, Glaetzer's 2004 Amon Ra Shiraz is full-bodied, rich and dark-fruited, with black cherry and plum fruit forming the base, while grace notes of baking spices, mocha and cedar play about the edges. Creamy and velvety in texture, with a long finish, it remains at its peak and should continue to drink well for another decade or more.

Wine & Spirit Magazine (96)

Open the bottle and you'll find harmony in the glass, but the wine remains subtle, stony and mute, as if the flavors lie behind a closed door. Over the course of several days, that door begins to open, the stoniness transforms into sleek fruit, as if to mirror the complexity of the multicolored pebbles that sustain Haut-Brion's vines, a range of flavors from red to purple to black. The structure grows increasingly substantial, while the harmony remains, lending the wine mysterious power. Twenty years from now, this will just begin to reach a plateau and should sustain itself long after.

Vinous (95)

The 2004 Cepparello has fleshed out beautifully since I last tasted it. Dark raspberries, flowers, licorice and spices blossom from the glass as the wine opens up over time. When it was young the 2004 was a much more linear wine, but since then it has put on a lot of weight. Today, the 2004 comes across as a modern day 1982 because of its balance of aromatics, fruit and structure.

Vinous (93)

Medium red. Lovely perfumed nose offers raspberry, rose petal and minerals as well as hints of darker black cherry and blueberry. A distinct step up in density from the foregoing 2004s; silky, scented and almost lush for the year. Compellingly perfumed and vibrant wine. Finishes broad and long, with strikingly sweet tannins and lovely lingering perfume (a rapid succession of sensations is the way Mugnier puts it).

Wine Advocate (98)

One of the most colossal wines in all of my tastings was Jim Barry’s 2004 Shiraz The Armagh, a 100% Shiraz aged 16 months in French and American oak. It is an opaque purple-hued, super-intense effort displaying great precision and richness. Notes of melted asphalt, acacia flowers, blueberries, blackberries, charcoal, and espresso roast emerge from this full, dense, opulent Shiraz. The finish lasts for over 45 seconds. This is a great example of one of the icons of Australian Shiraz. Anticipated maturity: now-2025.

Vinous (96)

The 2004 Montrachet Grand Cru is a big and very pleasant surprise. Clean and silvery in color, it has an intense, bewitching bouquet of white peach and yellow plum, touches of petrichor developing in the glass. Taut and strict yet utterly compelling, this is what a Montrachet should be about. The palate offers brilliant delineation based on a killer line of acidity, revealing hints of lemongrass and lemon peel toward the energetic finish. This is a Montrachet that just feels so “alive.” Highly recommended. Tasted at the Montrachet vertical in London.

Vinous (96)

The 2004 Montrachet Grand Cru is a big and very pleasant surprise. Clean and silvery in color, it has an intense, bewitching bouquet of white peach and yellow plum, touches of petrichor developing in the glass. Taut and strict yet utterly compelling, this is what a Montrachet should be about. The palate offers brilliant delineation based on a killer line of acidity, revealing hints of lemongrass and lemon peel toward the energetic finish. This is a Montrachet that just feels so “alive.” Highly recommended. Tasted at the Montrachet vertical in London.