2004 Wine from France

View From The Cellar, 97 points: The 2004 Krug remains one of the most beautiful young vintages of this bottling to be released in quite some time. It does not have the power and sternness of structure of the titan that is the 2002, nor the shimmering...

Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: For a 2004, this is big and rich, but that is to be expected from Guiraud. The fruit is magnificently ripe, with flavors of peach and tangerine syrup along with the core of botrytis and dark honey. The aftertaste is...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97 points: Fermented in oak barrels and aged under natural corks for almost 13 years, Bollinger's 2004 R. D. Extra Brut blends 66% Pinot Noir with 34% Chardonnay from 16 crus, 88% of which are classified as Grand Cru. The wine opens...

Wine Enthusiast, 92 points: Editors' Choice. This château has seen a big investment in recent years and it has paid off. Despite its modern, polished style evidenced by a generous use of new wood, it retains the proper charm of a Margaux, with the...

Wine Spectator, 92 points: Shows prominent herb and tobacco notes, but has the density of fruit for balance, with fleshy layers of black currant and raspberry. The dark, ripe finish shows graphite and licorice notes, with solid grip. Drink now...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, 93 points: (based on roughly 60% cabernet sauvignon) Good full ruby-red. Crunchy cassis bitter chocolate violet black olive and a note of leather on the nose. Quite juicy if a bit firm-edged with musky black cherry blackberry violet...

jamessuckling.com, 92 points: A beautiful red just opening now, with pretty currants, smoke and spice aromas that follow through to a solid core of ripe tannins, focused fruit and a silky, textured finish. Drink now or hold.

Wine Spectator, 95 points: This is a beauty, with the singed apple wood and juniper notes fully melded with the core of lush raspberry and blackberry confiture flavors. The edges are rounded off but the spine still drives through. Ends with...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, 95 points: (a blend of 64% cabernet sauvignon 32% merlot 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot) Bright ruby-red. Aromatic nose combines blackberry violet and licorice. Juicy aromatic and fine-grained with subtle inner-mouth perfume...

Burghound, 91 points: A surprisingly airy and like the La Justice, very pinot nose that is both elegant and transparent dissolves into supple, detailed and quite finely balanced middle weight flavors that are both delicious yet serious and...

Burghound, 91 points: I often find this wine to be dramatically big and powerful but to lack nuance and grace but in 2004, this is not the case. No, it is not as elegant as the Ile de Vergelesses but apart from that, there is more of...