Region: France, Bordeaux, Margaux

Tasting notes: With as much Merlot in the blend as the 1990 and 1996 the quality of this wine is as good as any vintage that winemaker Paul Pontallier can remember. When we tasted the 2004 Chateau Margaux we found it to be as fabulous and exciting as the 2000 had been at a similar stage. The nose was simply beautiful - ripe, fine sweet, elegant and powerful with huge potential. The palate is expansive and multi-faceted. Alongside Latour, this is one of the two wines of the vintage.

2004 was born in conditions closely resembling those of 1996: the same unsettled summer weather, the same lovely early autumn, the same rainy harvest… Last minute rain though in no way modifies the body of a wine, nor weakens its muscle; it only takes away a bit of fatness, which gives it a finer silhouette. Château Margaux 2004 is therefore a great classic vintage. There is great finesse and above all purity on the nose in this subtle combination of floral, fruit and spice aromas; all are clearly present, but no single aroma dominates. On the palate, the tannic structure is tight-knit, fine and tender. The general impression is firstly balance, precision, freshness and finally an air-light grace which can only be found in great Margaux.

Reviews: Wine Advocate - 94/100 - Neal Martin - 01/03/2017 – Tasted September 2016: 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.