Inky purple core leading to an amber rim. The ’04 Haut Bergey carries a nose laden with black and blue fruit with tinges of leather, grilled meat, smoke and herbs. The dark fruit on the palate picks up an earthy edge while the finish leaves lingering notes of forest floor, tobacco and a slight mineral streak. With tannin fully integrated and fruit set in the secondary, this pleasantly aged Pessac is in great form. Drink now.

A top-notch effort from proprietress Helene Garcin, Haut-Bergey’s 2004 exhibits an evolved, cedary, smoky, tobacco, and sweet cherry-scented bouquet offered in a medium-bodied, supple-textured style. It is not as big or forceful as the 2005 nor as structured as the 2006, but rather it is evolved, seductive, and ideal for drinking over the next 7-8 years. - Robert Parker