2004 Vintage — An Elegant, Mature and Highly Interesting Year to Select

Buying a 2004 wine means choosing a bottle that has reached a beautiful stage of maturity, ideal as a birthday bottle, a birth-year wine or for a tasting of wines with around twenty years of evolution. The 2004 vintage is not uniform across all regions, but it offers many fine successes, especially in Champagne, Italy, selected Bordeaux, the Rhône, Spain and among certain great white or red wines built for ageing.

The general style of 2004 is often marked by balance, freshness and a more classical kind of ripeness rather than excessive heat. After the heat of the 2003 vintage, 2004 appears as a more composed, more readable and often more elegant year. The best wines have now developed attractive aromatic complexity while retaining a pleasing structure.

The Style of the 2004 Vintage

The 2004 vintage stands out for a more classical and balanced profile than some very hot years. In many regions, the wines show good freshness, moderate to firm structure and an evolution that is now very appealing. The best 2004 bottles can offer a particularly attractive balance between aromatic maturity and firmness on the palate.

At this stage, 2004 wines are no longer simply young wines: they are entering the category of mature bottles. The best Champagnes, Barolo, Bordeaux, Northern Rhône wines, Brunello, Rioja and great white wines can still offer several years of ageing, while more modest cuvées should generally be opened without waiting too long.

Which 2004 Wines Should You Buy First?

• Very high priority: 2004 vintage Champagnes, great 2004 Barolo, top Piedmont wines and benchmark Italian cuvées.
• High priority: 2004 Bordeaux from great châteaux, Northern Rhône wines, Brunello di Montalcino, Rioja Gran Reserva and Ribera del Duero.
• Medium priority: 2004 Burgundy from great domaines, 2004 Sauternes, top Alsace or German white wines.
• Selective priority: California 2004, New World wines and more modest cuvées, to be chosen according to producer and storage.

Champagne 2004: Finesse, Freshness and Great Elegance

Champagne 2004 is one of the great strengths of the vintage. Long considered more discreet than 2002, it is now valued for its elegance, purity, freshness and ability to age gracefully. The best 2004 Champagnes offer a fine, precise, airy and highly gastronomic style.

The aromatic profile of great cuvées may evoke ripe citrus, yellow apple, pear, chalk, white flowers, brioche, almond, hazelnut, light honey and delicate toasted notes. For a 2004 birthday bottle, a great vintage Champagne is one of the most elegant and reliable choices.

Examples of great cuvées to look for:

• Dom Pérignon 2004 — A major reference of the vintage, balancing maturity, freshness and elegance.
• Louis Roederer Cristal 2004 — A Champagne of great precision, sought after for its finesse and longevity.
• Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2004 — An iconic cuvée, luminous, chalky and highly refined.
• Bollinger La Grande Année 2004 — A more vinous, broad and structured Champagne.
• Pol Roger Vintage 2004 — A classic, balanced and gastronomic style.

Buying priority: very high. Champagne 2004 is one of the best categories of the vintage, especially from leading houses, prestige cuvées and magnums.

Italy 2004: A Great Classic Vintage for Piedmont and Barolo

Italy 2004 is one of the great successes of the vintage, particularly in Piedmont. 2004 Barolo wines are often regarded as classical, balanced, structured and suitable for ageing. Today, they offer a beautiful combination of depth, freshness, refined tannins and aromatic complexity.

The style of great 2004 Barolo may evoke black cherry, dried rose, violet, noble tar, truffle, spice, fine leather, liquorice and forest floor. For lovers of great Italian reds, 2004 is a particularly interesting year.

Styles to look for:

• Barolo 2004 — One of the great choices of the vintage, especially from historic producers.
• Barbaresco 2004 — Very interesting for finesse, elegance and aromatic maturity.
• Brunello di Montalcino 2004 — A strong Tuscan option, especially from benchmark estates.
• Super Tuscans 2004 — Worth considering from top producers, with clear provenance.

Buying priority: very high for Barolo and Barbaresco from top producers; high for well-preserved Brunello and top Tuscan wines.

Bordeaux 2004: A Classic, Accessible and Selective Vintage

In Bordeaux, 2004 is a classic, serious and often more accessible vintage than the famous years around it. The wines can offer a straight, fresh and balanced style, with moderate to firm tannins and pleasant evolution today among the best châteaux.

The best 2004 Bordeaux may show notes of blackcurrant, cedar, blond tobacco, graphite, forest floor, fine leather, sweet spices and evolved dark fruit. They suit lovers of classic Bordeaux, less solar than 2003 and often more immediately approachable than 2005.

Appellations and styles to favour:

• Pauillac 2004 — Very interesting among classified growths and châteaux with a classical style.
• Saint-Julien 2004 — Often balanced, fine and harmonious from the best producers.
• Pomerol 2004 — Can offer more roundness and charm from great terroirs.
• Saint-Émilion 2004 — Worth seeking from serious estates, with ripeness and balance.
• Pessac-Léognan 2004 — A strong option for elegant reds and certain great dry whites.

Buying priority: high for great châteaux and well-preserved bottles; medium for more modest crus.

Sauternes 2004: Freshness, Moderate Richness and Necessary Selection

In Sauternes and Barsac, 2004 is an interesting but not absolutely major vintage. The best estates produced fresh, balanced, fruity and appealing wines, with generally less massive richness than in truly great sweet wine years. Selection remains important, as quality can vary depending on the tries and estates.

The best 2004 Sauternes may evoke honey, apricot, candied orange, roasted peach, beeswax, saffron, sweet spices and good freshness on the finish. They can make a fine birthday bottle, but they are not the absolute summit of the vintage.

Buying priority: medium to high from great names, especially with reliable provenance and a sensible price.

Burgundy 2004: A Producer-Driven, Selective Year

In Burgundy, 2004 is a vintage that requires selection, especially for red wines. The wines can be fresh, tense and sometimes marked by a vegetal character depending on sector and producer. The best domaines nevertheless made fine, delicate bottles that can be interesting today for lovers of evolved Burgundy.

White Burgundies from 2004 can be interesting from serious producers, particularly when bottles have been well stored. At this stage of evolution, however, the precise condition of the bottle and the reputation of the domaine are decisive.

• Red Burgundy 2004 — Best selected from reliable domaines and recognised terroirs.
• 2004 grands crus and premiers crus — Interesting from top producers, but to be chosen carefully.
• White Burgundy 2004 — A possible strong option, especially from domaines with good élevage and reliable storage.

Buying priority: medium, with strict selection by domaine, appellation and bottle condition.

Rhône 2004: Balance, Freshness and Fine Classical Successes

Rhône 2004 can offer fine successes, especially for those who prefer wines that are less massive than in very solar years. The vintage often shows a fresher, more balanced and more classical style, with wines that are now pleasant to drink when they come from good producers.

In the Northern Rhône, Syrah may show notes of pepper, violet, black olive, leather, smoke, dark fruit and spice. In the Southern Rhône, the best 2004 Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines can offer a softer, spicy and ready-to-drink style.

• Côte-Rôtie 2004 — A fine option for lovers of elegant, evolved Syrah.
• Hermitage 2004 — Best chosen from leading producers and in good condition.
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2004 — Interesting in a more accessible and mature style.

Buying priority: high for Northern Rhône from top producers; medium to high for well-preserved Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Spain 2004: Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Great Age-Worthy Cuvées

Spain 2004 is a very strong option for lovers of age-worthy wines. Several Spanish regions produced structured, deep red wines capable of fine evolution, especially Rioja, Ribera del Duero and certain prestige cuvées.

Great Spanish wines from 2004 may show notes of ripe dark fruit, tobacco, leather, noble vanilla, spice, cedar, cocoa and forest floor. For a birthday bottle, they often offer an attractive choice, with a pleasure-to-price ratio that can be very compelling compared with Bordeaux or Burgundy.

• Rioja Gran Reserva 2004 — A very strong category for lovers of evolved and elegant red wines.
• Ribera del Duero 2004 — Worth seeking from great estates and age-worthy cuvées.
• Priorat 2004 — Interesting for lovers of powerful, structured Mediterranean wines.

Buying priority: high for Rioja Gran Reserva and Ribera del Duero from top producers.

Germany and Alsace 2004: Fresh, Precise and Age-Worthy Rieslings

Great 2004 Rieslings, especially from Germany and Alsace, can be very interesting for lovers of mature white wines. The style of the vintage often favours freshness, precision, citrus notes, minerality and elegant aromatic evolution.

The best wines may develop notes of candied lemon, ripe apple, white peach, light honey, noble petrol, warm stone, dried flowers and fine spices. Cuvées with residual sugar, Alsace grands crus and German Rieslings from good producers can still offer memorable drinking experiences.

• German Riesling 2004 — A strong option in Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese and great sites.
• Alsace Riesling 2004 — To be sought from historic estates and grands crus.
• Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris 2004 — Interesting from terroir-driven cuvées and well-preserved bottles.

Buying priority: medium to high for great Rieslings and perfectly preserved bottles.

California 2004: Napa Valley and Mature Cabernet Sauvignon

California 2004, especially Napa Valley, can offer fine wines for lovers of mature Cabernet Sauvignon. The best producers made rich, structured and expressive wines, with substance still present and appealing aromatic evolution.

Great 2004 California Cabernet Sauvignons may show notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, black plum, cedar, mint, dark chocolate, vanilla, tobacco and sweet spices. They suit lovers of powerful but now mature New World wines.

• Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 — Best chosen from historic estates and benchmark cuvées.
• Great Californian wines 2004 — Interesting with documented provenance.
• Magnums of Cabernet 2004 — Preferable when available.

Buying priority: medium to high depending on producer, especially for great Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Buying a 2004 Wine: Essential Criteria

When buying a 2004 bottle, it is important to consider the wine style, its ageing potential and its current condition. Great Champagne cuvées, Barolo, top Bordeaux, Rhône wines and major Spanish or Italian bottles can still offer excellent tastings. More modest wines should be chosen with greater caution.

• Provenance: favour known cellars, documented lots and bottles stored in good conditions.
• Fill level: check levels carefully, especially for still wines and bottles intended for drinking.
• Colour: watch for colours that appear too evolved, dull or abnormally brown.
• Capsule and cork: avoid signs of seepage, oxidation or unstable storage.
• Format: magnums and larger formats remain preferable for great age-worthy wines.

Serving Advice for a 2004 Bottle

A 2004 bottle should be served according to its style. Mature red wines can be stood upright for a few hours before opening to allow sediment to settle. Decanting should remain measured: it is better to taste the wine before deciding on prolonged aeration.

2004 Champagnes should be served cool but not ice-cold, in order to preserve aromatic finesse. Barolo, Bordeaux, Rioja, Ribera del Duero and great Rhône wines can be served around 16 to 18°C. Mature white wines, such as Riesling or great white Burgundy, benefit from being served slightly cool, but not too cold.

Summary of the 2004 Vintage

• Champagne 2004 — One of the great highlights of the vintage, with finesse, freshness and strong ageing capacity.
• Italy 2004 — A major success in Piedmont, especially for Barolo and Barbaresco.
• Bordeaux 2004 — Classic, accessible and interesting from great châteaux.
• Sauternes 2004 — Good bottles are possible, but selection is necessary.
• Burgundy 2004 — Producer-driven vintage, to be selected carefully.
• Rhône 2004 — A fine option for balanced, fresh and now mature wines.
• Spain 2004 — Very interesting for Rioja Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero and great age-worthy cuvées.
• Germany and Alsace 2004 — Good Rieslings are possible, with freshness and fine evolution.
• California 2004 — Interesting for great Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

2004: A Mature, Elegant and Highly Versatile Vintage

The 2004 vintage is now a very attractive year to explore for a birthday bottle, a birth-year wine or a tasting of mature wines. Its greatest successes are found in vintage Champagnes, great Barolo, selected Bordeaux, wines from the Rhône, major Spanish cuvées and some great age-worthy white wines.

Well chosen, a 2004 wine can offer a beautiful balance between maturity, freshness and complexity. When buying a 2004 bottle, it is best to favour benchmark producers, appellations known for their ageing potential and bottles that have been perfectly preserved.