1 | Wine | 91 to 95, 2004 | Page 4

"Fresh redcurrant and blood orange aromas are underscored by notes of talc and quinine, with gentle leesiness adding depth and a sense of richness. Displays youthfully tight citrus and mineral qualities on entry, but more powerful red berry notes come on strong in the middle palate. Graceful but powerful too, with good finishing grip and a lingering note of spicecake."

"Light, bright gold with a steady bead. Deep, smoky citrus and pear skin aromas are complicated by notes of floral honey and sweet butter. Broad and open-knit, offering sweet orange and orchard fruit flavors and gentle minerality. The mineral note adds vibrancy to the smooth, juicy finish. This is drinking extremely well right now."

"A lively dark ruby, it is a vibrant effort bursting with expressive aromatics and layered, well-delineated fruit, showing much purity on the palate and closing with a long, finessed finish."

"There's a malty edge to this creamy Champagne, which shows flavors of raisin bread and currant, with a touch of candied orange peel. The airy texture and frothy mousse create an elegant impression and bring you back for another sip, with a lightly juicy finish."

"This is a dense, ruby/purple-tinged wine with full body, and despite the softness of the general vintage, Montelena has plenty of structure...The wine has sweet tannin in a broad, flavorful, concentrated style with plenty of black currant, licorice, and spice. The wine is beautifully textured, slightly more forward than most Montelena Cabernets tend to be. It is another beauty from probably the most consistent winery for Cabernet Sauvignon over the last three decades." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Light, bright gold. Deeply pitched aromas of pear skin, redcurrant and rhubarb, with musky herbal and floral nuances adding complexity. Sappy, penetrating red berry and orchard fruit flavors show excellent depth, with notes of lemon rind and chalky minerals providing lift. A smoky quality comes up with air and carries through the long, powerful finish. Offers an impressive blend of richness and energy."

"Inky ruby. Strong tobacco- and herb-accented cassis and cherry aromas, with an underpinning of graphite. Elegant and spicy in the mouth, with energetic red and dark berry flavors and firm, youthful tannins. This possesses impressive power but there's also a sense of restraint, suggesting that it will repay cellaring." Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"The 2004 Vin Santo del Chianti Classico Occhio di Pernice emerges from the glass with an intriguing array of smoke, licorice, honey, scorched earth and tar, all of which add considerable complexity to the fruit. This is an exotic, full-throttle style of Vin Santo, but there is more than enough freshness to balance some of the wine’s more opulent leanings. From time to time the volatile acidity (always present in sweet wines) sticks out a bit, which is the only thing that keeps the score from going higher."

"This brilliant blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and 46% Merlot (which was harvested very late) reveals complex aromas of lead pencil shavings, burning embers, black currants, cherries, and blackberries as well as a subtle smoky charcoal component. Medium to full-bodied and spicy with sweet tannin and an opulent, fleshy personality, it is a terrific effort from this great Pessac-Leognan vineyard." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Exotic, highly aromatic nose combines pear, vanilla, allspice, clove, crushed stone and chamomile. Rich on entry, then densely packed, juicy and mineral-accented, with imploded flavors of citrus and orchard fruits, vanilla bean and candied ginger. Finishes with noteworthy cut and clarity, repeating the spice and vanilla notes."