Vinous (89)

Boroli's 2004 Barolo is a pretty, fragrant wine. It offers nice up-front intensity in its fruit, but then tails off a bit on the mid-palate. With air, notes of leather, spices and toasted oak develop, adding further complexity. A few years of bottle age should help this fruit-driven Barolo integrate its oak. This is a successful effort at this level.

Vinous (99)

The 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is every bit as spectacular as it has always been. I remember tasting the 2004 with Bruno Giacosa and Dante Scaglione before it was released, and making a note to buy as much of the wine as soon as it hit the market. I have never regretted that decision. Explosive, deep and powerful, the 2004 Asili will reward readers lucky enough to own it for several decades. On this night, it is simply sublime. Not surprisingly, the 2004 is also one of the favorites of the group.

Vinous (99)

The 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is every bit as spectacular as it has always been. I remember tasting the 2004 with Bruno Giacosa and Dante Scaglione before it was released, and making a note to buy as much of the wine as soon as it hit the market. I have never regretted that decision. Explosive, deep and powerful, the 2004 Asili will reward readers lucky enough to own it for several decades. On this night, it is simply sublime. Not surprisingly, the 2004 is also one of the favorites of the group.

Vinous (100)

The 2004 Barolo Riserva Le Rocche del Falletto is simply as profound as wine can be. Period. Strikingly layered, perfumed and sensual to the core, the 2004 has it all. Next to the straight Falletto, the Rocche is more refined but also quite a bit more backward as well. Mint, rose petal and melted road tar grace the exquisite finish. The level of intensity here is simply mind-blowing. At ten years of age, the 2004 Rocche is a youngster, but it is clearly a wine of divine inspiration. For readers who look at the numbers, the score is the only possible score.

Wine Enthusiast (92)

91-93 A rounded, soft-tannined ripe wine, which shows traces of black currant jelly as well as good acidity. It is attractive, layering sweetness with good, ripe fruit.

Wine Advocate (98)

No doubt, Casanova di Neri shows some of its best work in this decade, starting with the super voluptuous 2001 vintage and ending with the superbly fine and powerful 2010 edition. The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is closer to the 2001 expression in style and personality. This wine shows deep richness and plumpness with black fruit nuances that segue to exotic spice, bitter chocolate and cured tobacco. Those lingering balsam notes of rosemary and medicinal herb remind you of the Montalcino territory. Smoke, tar, licorice and crushed flint underline the evolved nature of this balanced Tuscan red. If you have a bottle in your cellar, you could drink it now or hold off longer.

Vinous (94+)

(from a late-ripening vineyard in Tupungato planted at an altitude of 4,725 feet) Saturated bright ruby. Brooding aromas of blackberry, black raspberry, dark chocolate, violet and pepper. Wonderfully lush and creamy, with uncommon intensity to its sweet blackberry fruit; some superripe notes are leavened by peppery lift on the very long and vibrant back end, which features wonderfully suave tannins and restrained sweetness. This is more high-pitched today than the Nicasia Vineyard bottling but perhaps a bit less harmonious; with 24 hours in the recorked bottle, though, it only gained in vibrancy.

Wine Advocate (98+)

The single-vineyard 2004 Malbec “Argentino Vineyard” spent 17 months in new French oak. Remarkably fragrant and complex aromatically, it offers up aromas of wood smoke, creosote, pepper, clove, black cherry, and blackberry. Made in a similar, elegant style, it is the most structured of the three single vineyard wines, needing a minimum of a decade of additional cellaring. It should easily prove to be a 25-40 year wine. It is an exceptional achievement in Malbec.

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.

The Caves de la Muyre Arbois Pupillin Pinot 2004 is a remarkable gem from the acclaimed wine region of Arbois Pupillin, France. This illustrious Pinot Noir boasts an enchanting palette of dark red fruits, delicate spices and captivating earthy undertones. Its refinement is a testament to the traditional winemaking techniques observed by the renowned Caves de la Muyre.

Meticulously crafted, this 2004 vintage is an exquisite representation of Pinot noir at its finest, possessing a deep ruby hue and an elegantly balanced structure. The grapes undergo a sensitive and slow maceration to extract the intricate, full-bodied flavours, which then mature perfectly in oak casks, bestowing a smooth and velvety finish.

For those seeking finesse wrapped in a glass, the Caves de la Muyre Arbois Pupillin Pinot 2004 imparts a memorable impression and is a wine that unquestionably deserves a prized place in any discerning connoisseur's collection.

Wine Advocate (97)

Showing some of the more mature notes found in the 2006, the medium-gold colored 2004 Ermitage le Meal Blanc is another incredibly concentrated, thick and unctuous effort that's overflowing with notes of browned butter, marzipan, honeyed gold fruits and smoked earth. Layered, full-bodied and with notable freshness and purity, it's drinking beautifully today but has another two-plus decades of evolution.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

This is an iteration of a legendary Champagne. Perfectly balanced, still packed with white fruit but just touching nuttiness, the wine is at its peak. Celebrating one of the great Champagne vintages of this century, this wine is totally memorable and magnificent. Folio Fine Wine Partners.

Chateau Marsannay Vosne Romanee 1er Cru En Orveaux 2004 is an exquisite vintage originating from the revered vineyards of Vosne Romanée in Burgundy, France. This red wine is a testament to Chateau Marsannay, a world-renowned winery esteemed for its commitment to exceptional craftsmanship. The wine's tantalising complexity is derived from the delicate Pinot Noirs, culminating in an opulent medley of black cherry, redcurrant, and nuanced spice notes.

Winemaking techniques maintain the integrity of the Terroir, with use of traditional oak barrels shaping the wine's unique character and pronounced elegance. The enduring finish is characteristic of the fine mineral-rich soils of this premier cru vineyard. Chateau Marsannay Vosne Romanee 1er Cru En Orveaux 2004 stands as an outstanding example of French winemaking excellence; a true collectors' prize that promises an unrivalled tasting experience.

Vinous (95)

Dark ruby-red. Knockout nose combines black fruits, spices, volcanic minerality and earth, plus a sexy note of coffee torrefaction, all lifted by a violet topnote; reminded me of a ripe-year Pauillac. Wonderfully silky and concentrated on entry, then tactile and solid yet juicy as well in the middle palate, conveying terrific sweetness of sun-baked dark fruits complicated by licorice and exotic spices. This compellingly rich, deep wine displays the sappiness of a fruit reduction. The wine's saline minerality contributes to its impression of energy and a note of juicy cranberry enhances its current appeal. But this beauty is just embarking on what should be a multi-decade plane of peak drinkability. Uncommon flavor intensity here--and still just 30% new oak. Incidentally, this is the first year that Calistoga appeared on the front label, along with Napa Valley. (It was actually Bo Barrett who initially proposed AVA status for Calistoga, but it wasn't officially granted until 2009. (14.1% alcohol)

Jancis Robinson (19)

Deep, soft-edged garnet. Gorgeously complex and seductive aroma – perfumed, multilayered and even a little exotic in its spice, a touch of orange. Even with all that seduction, there's a breath of fresh air and energy. Soft, fresh and elegant. Fabulous harmony and delicacy on the palate – less intense than I expected from the nose but there is great persistence. Super smooth, gently fresh and finely aromatic.

Wine Enthusiast (95)

Cropped at a measly half ton per acre, this is Clarendon Hills' top Grenache bottling. It's tighter and denser than the other, more flamboyant offerings, needing time in the bottle to develop. For now, it's loaded with wonderfully pure blackberry and cassis fruit, but it promises to develop more complexity over the years; try from 2008-2020. Long and softly tannic on the finish.

Vinous (94)

Deep purple. Explosively pure aromas of raspberry, boysenberry and kirsch are almost head-spinning in their intensity and breadth. Lush, sweet and creamy in texture, with blackberry and boysenberry flavors penetrating every nook and cranny of the palate. But this superbly concentrated, deep wine is by no means a bruiser, as bright acids give the fruit lift and focus. The finish is a seemingly endless display of spicy, sweet red and dark berries, with whatever tannins there are utterly consumed by the black hole of fruit.

Vinous (95)

Dark, glass-staining purple. Expansive, floral bouquet of boysenberry, candied plum, blueberry jam and kirsch, with sexy oak spices and vanilla accentuating the impression of sweetness. A gorgeous expression of bright dark berry flavors, complicated by deft notes of cinnamon, cigar box and star anise. This shows impressive power but also an overall sense of elegance and finesse, especially on the juicy, long finish. An amazing wine, with jaw-dropping concentration and clarity.

Wine Advocate (95)

An amazing performance, even better than last year’s showing from tank, the 2004 Syrah Moritz is produced from one of Clarendon Hills’ youngest vineyard sites (planted in 1975). The wine was aged in 42% new French oak for 18 months prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Gorgeous aromas of flowers, blueberries, cassis, and meat jump from the glass of this cuvee. With huge body and a rich, intense style, Bratasiuk claims it is his hypothetical blend of a Cornas and Hermitage, although it possesses more fruit than most of those wines. It should drink well for a minimum of 15 years.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (87-90)

Ruby-red. Sappy red berries and blackberry show a candied, liqueur-like quality. Round, sweet, dense and lush but with well-integrated acids giving the wine good life in the mouth. Then quite closed, even a bit youthfully dry, on the back end. But then this wine still has a bit of malic acidity left to convert.

Imbibe a taste of history with the distinguished Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg 2004. Exquisitely crafted, this wine originates from Saumur-Champigny appellation, Loire Valley, in France’s finest vineyards. Guided by the strict principles of organic viticulture, the Foucault family, eighth-generation vignerons, crafted this masterpiece, resulting in a profound and impeccable expression of Cabernet Franc.

The wine matured for 24-30 months in new oak barrels, conveying structured tannins, vibrant acidity, and an intriguing blend of red currant, lead pencil, and graphite aromas. Dark ruby in colour and full-bodied, the Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg 2004 combines subtlety and power, evoking an unparalleled tasting experience. This is no ordinary wine, but rather a legend in the world of French winemaking, strongly representing the individuality and charm of the Saumur-Champigny terroir.

Every glass of the Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg 2004 encapsulates a distinct, rich narrative that continues to evolve, creating a multifaceted, memorable experience for the discerning connoisseur.

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.

Vinous (92)

The estate's 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is gorgeous for its clarity, elegance and precision. Medium in body, the wine reveals ripe red cherries, mint, minerals, tobacco and licorice in a taut, medium-bodied style. Today the Brunello is fairly tightly wound, but it should be a beauty once the tannins soften somewhat. This is a wine of grace, purity and superb balance.

Vinous (95+)

Col d'Orcia's 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento is beautifully perfumed, finessed and nuanced, with plenty of bright red-fleshed fruit flavors. Hints of cedar, smoke, licorice and tobacco develop in the glass, but the 2004 remains quite primary and dense, with little in the way of development relative to so many other wines of the vintage. The 2004 can be enjoyed today with some aeration, but its best drinking almost certainly lies in the future. Richer, dark red cherry compote and plum notes start to open up in the glass, hinting at what is to come.

Vinous (96)

(15.6% alcohol): Bright, dark red. Lovely complex, subtle perfume of black raspberry, mulberry, currant, nutty oak and sexy brown spices. Wonderfully pliant and fresh in the mouth, showing some very ripe qualities but also outstanding detail and finesse to its flavors of black raspberry and deep wet-stone minerality. Offers compelling sweetness while retaining a firm shape, finishing long and aromatic, with very suave, harmonious tannins. I found this wine a bit liqueur-like upon release but today it's a knockout.

Burghound (96)

This is also very cool and even more reserved at present, revealing only reluctant glimpses of very ripe and ultra spicy red and black berry fruit notes that are very pinot in character. The rich, full and powerful flavors are sweet, supple and utterly classy and the intensity this wine displays is seriously impressive and the superbly long and strikingly precise finish is crystalline in its purity and exactness. There is a rigorous element here that suggests this will require the better part of 15 years to be at its best but when it gets there, this is going to be a thrill ride. Readers know that I am not given to undue hyperbole but I love this style of wine as it's at once pure, understated, graceful and utterly composed.

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.