The first example of this cuvee I have tasted, the 2004 Rothwell Hyde Red Wine Blend is packaged with a brilliant orange-colored label. It possesses sweet creme de cassis fruit along with full-bodied, chunky, fleshy, fruit flavors,... Read More
The 2004 Thorevilos (200 cases) exhibits a deeper purple hue, and the nose is more restrained and closed than the Madrona Ranch's. It offers up hints of minerality, earth and spice. The wine hits the palate with lots of richness... Read More
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
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
The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard shows surprisingly more tannin than the 2005. Perhaps it is at the stage where it has been in the bottle for about a year and is beginning to shut down ever so slightly. A blend of 94%... 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
One of the vintage's most compelling wines (what's new about that?), Alain Vauthier's beloved 2004 Ausone has closed down considerably since I tasted it out of barrel, but it remains among the most concentrated wines... Read More
One of the vintage's most compelling wines (what's new about that?), Alain Vauthier's beloved 2004 Ausone has closed down considerably since I tasted it out of barrel, but it remains among the most concentrated wines... Read More
The 2004 Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage À Jacques Perrin continues to show well, and was even more open from this bottle than from one earlier this year. While still youthful, it has beautiful complexity and depth on the palate,... Read More
The dense ruby/purple-colored 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Paradise Hills Estate reveals notes of cocoa, coffee, chocolate and creme de cassis. It cuts a bigger swath across the palate than the Merlot, but with no hard edges. Deeply... Read More
The 2004 La Grande Année Rosé is based on 68% Pinot Noir and 32% Chardonnay, 89% from Grand Cru villages and 11% from Premier Crus. Disgorged in July 2013, this salmon colored rosé champagne displays fine red berry and floral... 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
Proprietor Patrick Maroteaux's 2004 exhibits grip in a linear style, and a structured, 1999-type personality with elegance, crisp acidity, and notes of minerals, raspberries, cocoa, and subtle oak. It possesses moderate tannin,... Read More
This ever-reliable producer has turned out a beautiful 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon that has plenty of black currant flavor as well as sweet toasty oak and smokiness in a nice, round, opulent sexy style that begs for drinking over... Read More
Incredible richness of Cabernet Franc, with blackberry and dark chocolate character. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit, but it's like a tightly knit ball of cashmere thread. The estate manager thinks it's better... Read More
The crushed rock-like terroir character of this tiny, but fabulous vineyard is unmistakable in the 2004 Clos St.-Martin. Sweet plum, cherry, and wet stone characteristics also emerge from this beauty that tastes like liquid rocks... Read More
The 2004 IX Proprietary Red Wine (1,258 cases from a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot) is amazing out of bottle. Flamboyant, super-fragrant aromas of graphite, creme de cassis,... 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
Lily-of-the-valley perfume and scents of lightly toasted brioche and almond rise from the glass of Moet's 2004 Brut Dom Perignon, along with hints of the apricot, pear and grapefruit that then inform a luscious and creamy... Read More