Emerging from pure limestone soils located just above Château Pavie, the 2004 Saint-Emilion offers up a classic Saint-Emilion bouquet of red and black currants, white truffle, tobacco, spring flowers, and obvious minerality. Beautifully balanced, full-bodied, and concentrated, it still has an undeniable sense of elegance and finesse, especially in its tannins. It's certainly mature and I don't see a huge upside to any additional cellaring, but it's going to continue evolving for another 15 years from cold cellars.

This small estate owned by Chantal and Gerard Perse (9 plus acres planted with 43-year-old vines) is composed of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. In 2004 yields were a low 28-30 hectoliters per hectare resulting in 400 cases being produced. The dense ruby/purple-colored 2004 offers smoky creme de cassis kirsch liqueur crushed rock and spring flower aromas. Opulent flamboyant rich dense and lavishly endowed it possesses enough fruit and glycerin to nearly conceal its elevated tannin. This wine should be at its finest between 2012-2025.