One of the top wines of the vintage, the 2004 Angelus (a 7,500-case blend of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc with a natural alcohol of 13.5%) is a classic, tannic, structured wine exhibiting a saturated dense purple color as... Read More
Despite having over 40-plus acres of vineyards in the northeasterly sector of Napa just south of Calistoga, the production at Araujo remains relatively limited, with the flagship wine, the Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard, producing... Read More
This is extremely primary and the extremely late malo shows here as the nose is almost raw with earthy, intense, backward, indeed even awkward and rough flavors today that display a touch of vegetal quality and plenty of firm... Read More
The supple-textured 2004 Chateau Margaux is reminiscent of the 2001 or 1999. It exhibits a superb blue/purple color to the rim as well as sweet aromas of flowers, blueberries, creme de cassis, licorice, and smoke, superb fruit... Read More
Good deep red. Sweet aromas of redcurrant, raspberry and minerals, complicated by sexy oak spices. Densely packed, oaky and sweet, with raspberry and milk chocolate flavors carrying through onto the lingering finish, which features... Read More
A beautiful example of the vintage, proprietor Michel Reybier and his top-notch winemaker, Jean-Guillaume Prats, have fashioned an exceptional wine displaying a dense ruby/purple color as well as a sweet perfume of boysenberries,... Read More
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... Read More
Sculptor/stone mason Michel Gracia has turned in another astonishing performance. His friendship with Alain Vauthier (Ausone's proprietor) has no doubt resulted in some serious discussions on wine quality. Cropped at a remarkably... Read More
Performing better from bottle than it did from cask, this blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Franc has put on weight over the last year. It exhibits the classic style of both Las Cases and St.-Julien... Read More
A good wine for the vintage, with berry and currant character and hints of chocolate. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky tannins and a medium finish. Score range: 89-91 -JS WS
A brilliant effort from a great grand cru site is the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard. It possesses an opaque ruby/purple color, full-bodied power, and notes of charcoal, pain grille, creme de cassis, licorice,... Read More
As elegant and fine as the aromatic profile of the Taillepieds is, this is even more elegant with the classic rose petal and mineral-infused nose that gives way to wonderfully transparent, pure and stunning focused middle weight... Read More
Wonderful aromas of spice, berry and lightly toasty oak. Medium- to full-bodied, with very fine tannins and a lovely finish. All in finesse. A mini-1996. -JS WS
The 2004 Mouton-Rothschild was the first vintage for Philippe Dhalluin, who was so successful in persuading the late Philippine de Rothschild to institute a more strict selection with respect to Mouton-Rothschild. The outstanding... Read More
This stunning wine is one of the vintage's great successes. Administrator Thomas Duroux has fashioned a modern day version of Palmer's brilliant 1966. Displaying a rare combination of power and elegance, this dense purple-colored... Read More
The second wine, which is called L'Esprit des Pavots, is a noteworthy wine. The 2004 is soft, round, and a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, 17% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot. This 121-acre estate with... Read More
Beautiful, with lots of blackberry and currant, hints of toasty oak and fresh mushroom. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long finish. This shows really well. Very ripe. Serious. Long and in harmony. 65 percent Cabernet... Read More
The 2004 Brut Cristal has put on quite a bit of weight since I first tasted it earlier this year. It is a powerful, structured Cristal layered with considerable fruit. Chardonnay seems to play the leading role in 2004, at least... Read More
A completely different aromatic profile here with much more elegant and higher-toned red fruit aromas though not much wood to the hugely sappy flavors that completely drench the palate in pinot extract. This is delicious, well... Read More