This "super second" lives up to its billing. It is rich and concentrated with dark tannins that lie over the ripe jammy fruit and black rich chocolate flavors. Acidity and wood are there but only just hints after the richness of the fruit. A real magnificent aging wine.

Intense aromas of currant blackberry and light vanilla. Full-bodied with velvety tannins and a long caressing finish. Layered with everything in the right proportion for the vintage. Excellent. Reminds me of the 1996. Best after 2012. 20000 cases made. –JS

Showing beautifully, with a classic elegance and beautiful complexity, the 2004 Saint-Julien reveals a healthy ruby hue as well as textbook currants, lead pencil shavings, dried tobacco, and dried flower-like aromas and flavors. It shows the more streamlined, elegant style of the vintage yet has plenty of sweet fruit, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. It's drinking at point today yet should continue evolving and drinking nicely for 15-20 years or so.

Performing better from bottle than it did from cask this blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon 13% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc has put on weight over the last year. It exhibits the classic style of both Las Cases and St.-Julien in its deep black currant notes interwoven with sweet cherries wet stones and toasty vanillin. Made in a structured medium to full-bodied style with superb concentration beautiful purity and admirable symmetry this beauty is one of the strongest efforts of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2028. Also tasted: 2004 Clos du Marquis (88)

The 2004 Léoville Las Cases has a noticeable mintiness on the nose that actually complements the red fruit, though it deviates away from what you might call Saint-Julien typicité. After ten minutes, it coheres with ash and black tea aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded texture on the entry. The 2004 shows fine acidity and is lightly spiced with cracked black pepper towards the finish. A little conservative, but it acquits itself well considering the vintage. -- Neal Martin