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.

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.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (93-96)

Exotic aromas of pineapple, orange zest, iodine and menthol. Then wonderfully fat and nectar-like, with rare depth of fruit for the vintage. Boasts great richness without any heaviness. Really expands in the mouth and goes on and on on the very long, dry finish. Among the strongest 2004 samples I tasted on my most recent trip.

Wine & Spirit Magazine (90)

Black and unyielding up front, with the scent of the dark skin of currants, this young wine emphasizes its stony tannins. The finish opens up with air, a curtain rising on cassis flavors that slowly take precedence over the tannin. Firm and polished, this should age well.

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 Spectator (95-100)

Wonderful aromas of pineapple, apple and lemon, with loads of botrytis. Full-bodied, but very refined, superfresh and racy. Goes on and on. Fabulous. Incredible purity and brightness. Like a perfectly cut diamond. Pierre Lurton, the manager of Yquem as well as Cheval-Blanc, really wanted to mark his arrival at the legendary estate, so he went to draconian lengths to deliver something superb in 2004. (He reduced the crop by half, so probably fewer than 75,000 bottles will be produced). Score range: 95-100 -JS

Vinous (98)

The 2004 Dom Pérignon is a totally different beast. It is the product of a very long and cool growing season marked by heavy summer rains in some sectors of the region and then ideal conditions through to harvest. After a brutally torrid 2003, the vines responded by setting a huge crop. In fact, 2004 remains the most abundant vintage in the history of Champagne. The best wines, though, well, they have always impressed with their laser-like cut and focus. That’s exactly what comes through in the 2004 Dom Pérignon. Tasted from magnum, the 2004 shows all the linear energy and crystalline precision of the year, but with that extra magic that comes from fermentation and longer aging in the big bottle. The 2004 has long been one of my favorite Dom Pérignons. From magnum, it is especially captivating.

Vinous (98)

The 2004 Dom Pérignon is a totally different beast. It is the product of a very long and cool growing season marked by heavy summer rains in some sectors of the region and then ideal conditions through to harvest. After a brutally torrid 2003, the vines responded by setting a huge crop. In fact, 2004 remains the most abundant vintage in the history of Champagne. The best wines, though, well, they have always impressed with their laser-like cut and focus. That’s exactly what comes through in the 2004 Dom Pérignon. Tasted from magnum, the 2004 shows all the linear energy and crystalline precision of the year, but with that extra magic that comes from fermentation and longer aging in the big bottle. The 2004 has long been one of my favorite Dom Pérignons. From magnum, it is especially captivating.

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!

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!

Jeb Dunnuck (97+)

The 2004 Champagne Plentitudes 2 is a stark contrast to the 2003 vintage and offers a more compact and linear expression, with energetic tension and persistence. Composed of 38% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir, the nose is flush with wet stone reminiscent of great Chablis, along with white nectarine and white flowers. The palate runs seamless with a super-fine mousse, vibrant peach orchard fruit, and a silky mineral texture. This may well prove to be the longer-lived of the two wines. Drink 2024-2044.

Jeb Dunnuck (97+)

The 2004 Champagne Plentitudes 2 is a stark contrast to the 2003 vintage and offers a more compact and linear expression, with energetic tension and persistence. Composed of 38% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir, the nose is flush with wet stone reminiscent of great Chablis, along with white nectarine and white flowers. The palate runs seamless with a super-fine mousse, vibrant peach orchard fruit, and a silky mineral texture. This may well prove to be the longer-lived of the two wines. Drink 2024-2044.

Vinous (96+)

A wine of pure and total pleasure, the 2004 Dom Pérignon Rosé is explosive and hedonistically rich, with tons of pure texture from the 28% still Pinot in the blend. In this tasting, the 2004 Rosé is especially fine. I imagine it will reward readers lucky enough to own it with several decades of exceptional drinking. In a word: sublime.

Vinous - Ian D'Agata (90)

(a blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 5% petit verdot and 5% cabernet franc; 13.4% alcohol): Deep red. Open-knit aromas of red cherry and cassis complicated by intense notes of clove, nutmeg, incense and bay leaf. Then creamy and soft on the palate, but with lovely lift to the flavors of dark berries, minerals and cedar. The silky-sweet finish shows lovely aromatic persistence, not to mention very good intensity for a 2004. Drinking deliciously right now; at its relatively reasonable price today, this would be an excellent choice for restaurant dining.

LaRVF (98)

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche Grand Cru 2004

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.

Jancis Robinson (18.5)

Slightly more blueish purple than the Romanée St Vivant. Broad but less flattering on the nose than the RSV. Indeed it is slightly overshadowed by the RSV; I wonder whether the Domaine might in some years show the Richebourg before the RSV? More obviously 2004 than the RSB because a bit tighter and less obviously ripe with even the merest hint of green notes. This is a sinewy wine – more musclar than many Richebourgs. Fine, pure and extremely racy. Great refreshment value – certainly very, very different frim the RSV. Aerienne/ethereal. It should age well for it opened even in the glass but the acidity is particularly notable.

Vinous (94+)

(est. 2,500-$2,900) Good deep red. Less expressive but still utterly sexy nose offers plum, raspberry, flowers, smoke and earth. Hints at its superb volume but this is quite closed and tightly knit today, and much less expressive and sweet than La Tache. But this superconcentrated wine seemed to gain sweetness with aeration, showing an increasingly fat, seamless texture without any loss of energy as it opened in the glass. Really saturates the palate on the aftertaste, where the tannins are thoroughly buffered by the wine's strong extract and superb depth.

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 (88)

Aromas of chocolate, sweet cherries, dried herbs, and a hint of tapenade jump from the glass of this medium-bodied, silky, soft, pretty Margaux. Enjoy it over the next 10-12 years.

Wine Advocate (93)

One can’t say enough about the efforts Bruno Borie is pouring into this wonderful estate that I have often called the “Lafite Rothschild of St.-Julien.” An undeniable success, the 2004 Ducru boasts sweet aromas of creme de cassis, spring flowers, pain grille, licorice, and road tar. This pure, medium-bodied wine possesses moderately high tannin, superb concentration, good sweetness, and low acidity. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25 years. Also tasted: 2004 Croix de Beaucaillou (88; $25.00)

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.

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.