Chateau Margaux 2004

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "If one of 2004's enduring characteristics is its freshness, then Margaux epitomizes this. It is so deliciously fresh and floating, with great black currant and blueberry fruits, pointed up by spice, mint and a sense of elegance and poise. There's no doubt about its aging potential either: just feel that heart of firm tannins."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "This bottle was rocking! The finest example of this I have ever tasted. There was polish, elegance, grace and finesse in its stylings. Silky tannins, fresh, dark red fruits, espresso, spice and floral essences were all over the place. There was richness, length and sweet, ripe fruits in the polished finish. I am sure another 5 years in the bottle, if you have patience will only add more to the wine."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2004 Chateau Margaux has always been a promising wine and here, served blind against the First Growths, it finally proved that patience is necessary when it comes to such wines. It has an exquisite bouquet with brilliant delineation, scents of redcurrant, raspberry coulis, cold stone (almost flint-like) with pencil-lead and cedar lending it a Pauillac-like sense of aristocratic flair. The palate is extremely well balanced with a supple opening, nigh perfect acidity with a surprisingly citric undercurrent that lends so much freshness and tension. While it does not have the weight and power of say, 2000, 2005 or 2009, it cruises along with utmost harmony and you become smitten by its charms - something that is perhaps in short supply among the First Growths in this vintage. This is excellent. Tasted September 2016."

WEINWISSER: "Aufhellendes Rubin. Süsses Bouquet, Himbeeren, Wildkirschen, helle, fast vanillige Röstnoten, sexy und sauber. Im Gaumen saftig, leicht und verspielt, in der Adstringenz fein kernige Noten zeigend und relativ schlank endend, burgundisch."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This is lovely, with enticing, velvety plum sauce, macerated red currant fruit, black tea and incense notes that have melded beautifully. This shows a lovely tug of earth at the very end, retaining some grip for further cellaring, despite being approachable now. A lovely wine.—Non-blind Château Margaux vertical (December 2013). Drink now through 2029. 12,500 cases made."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Drinking beautifully, the 2004 Château Margaux (78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot) is all about elegance and finesse and has perfumed notes of sandalwood, dried flowers, and sweet red and black fruits all soaring from the glass. With medium body, a silky, seamless texture, ultra-fine tannin, and a great finish, it glides across the palate and is just a joy to drink. While it doesn’t have the weight or richness of a top vintage, it’s a beautiful expression of this estate. Drink it anytime over the coming 10-15 years."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Dark ruby. First impression is mocha, and toast, becoming more savoury and tobacco leaf with air. A bit lean in the middle, very fresh, tannins feel quite tight, dry and a bit furry, the finish also rather tied up by those tannins, which are dry at the very end. Really not sure how this is going to age – the tannins seem to need more time but the fruit is already a bit slight on the mid palate."