Do we ship to you?.
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Ausone Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2004
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle:
$1592.18
Pretty aromas of crushed blackberry, with hints of ash and light earth. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a...
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle:
$1361.65
Barrel Sample. This is certainly one of the stars of the vintage. With its solid tannins and dark, smoky character,...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Figeac Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2004
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle:
$506.83
Served in magnum, this represents a classic Bordeaux vintage that saw average temperatures and rainfall. You had to...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Giscours Margaux 2004
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle:
$191.05
A smooth, delicious wine. The fruit flavors go right through this ripe, complex wine, leaving the tannins and wood as...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Giscours Margaux 2004
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle:
$152.46
A smooth, delicious wine. The fruit flavors go right through this ripe, complex wine, leaving the tannins and wood as...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Gruaud Larose Saint Julien 2004
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle:
$243.38
The 2004 Gruaud Larose is a vintage that I have not tasted since 2011. This example, from a half-bottle, shows a...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Latour Pauillac 2004
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle:
$1196.38
There are tannins, structure and power, but also supreme elegance. The 2004 acidity comes through in the sweet cassis...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Leoville Las Cases Saint Julien 2004
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle:
$444.95
A cooler year than 2003 or 2005, and the precision is clear, with layers of tight black fruits, cedar and fresh mint...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Margaux Margaux 2004
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle:
$1328.88
An evocative nose with perfumed aromas jumping out of the glass. This balances intensity with freshness giving sour...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Margaux Pavillon Rouge 2004
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle:
$408.95
The 2004 Pavillon Rouge is similar to the grand vin, just slightly less intense and long. Sandalwood, dried flowers,...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Montrose Saint Estephe 2004
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle:
$281.95
This one of my favorite 2004 Bordeaux to drink at the moment. It shows lovely sweet tobacco, flowers and currants on...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Sociando-Mallet Haut Medoc 2004
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle:
$132.45
Sociando Mallet’s big, extracted, rich, classic 2004 boasts a deep ruby/purple hue as well as aromas of charcoal,...
Pre-Arrival
Clos Du Marquis Saint Julien 2004
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle:
$159.94
Aromas of raspberry and citrus, with just a hint of sweet tobacco. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and a...
Pre-Arrival
Domaine De Chevalier Pessac Leognan Rouge 2004
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle:
$157.95
Thankfully, this estate appears to have scaled down their use of new oak as the wood component is much more subtle...
Carignan Red Bordeaux Zinfandel 2004 1.5Ltr Pre-Arrival Wine
Carignan is an ancient blue-skinned grape varietal, thought to be indigenous to the Aragon region of Spain. However, today it is most commonly associated with the fine wines of southern France, and has been grown in many countries around the world which have the warm and dry conditions it requires to thrive. Carignan is recognized as being quite a sensitive vine, highly susceptible to all kinds of rot and mildew, although producing excellent results when given the right conditions and handled correctly. Its high tannin levels and acidity make the Carignan grapes very astringent, and as such, they are often used as a blending grape to give body to other, lesser bodied varietals. Despite this, with careful treatment, Carignan can produce superb single varietal wines packed full of character and unique attributes.
There are few regions in the world with stricter regulations in regards to wine production and grape varietals than those found in Bordeaux, France. Here, in the home of the world's finest wines, the type and quality of grapes used is of utmost importance, and the legendary wineries which work on the banks of the Gironde river have mastered the careful art of juice blending to find the perfect balance for their produce. Whilst there are six 'official' Bordeaux grapes, the two key varietals for almost every fine Bordeaux wine are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and with good reason. Whilst Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are renowned for their acidity and astringency, strong fruit and spice flavors and full body, Merlot grapes are notably rounded, soft, fleshy and lighter on tannin. The combination of these two varietals, along with a small percentage of (commonly) Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc, is the perfect balancing act – the two grape varietals cancel out each others weaker points, and accentuate all that is good about the other.
The precise origins of what became known as the Zinfandel grape variety are uncertain, although it has clear genetic equivalents in both Puglia and Croatia. However, when it was brought to the New World in the mid 19th century, it became known as the Zinfandel, and has been consistently popular and widely grown ever since. These very dark and very round grapes have a remarkably high sugar content, resulting in relatively high levels of alcohol in the wines they are made into, with bottles often displaying as much as fifteen percent. What makes the Zinfandel such an interesting grape, though, is the fact that the flavors produced by this varietal vary considerably depending on the climate they are grown in. In cooler valley regions, the Zinfandel grapes result in wines which hold strong flavors of tart and sweet fruits; raspberry, redcurrant and sweet cherry, held in a very smooth and silky liquid. Conversely, warmer regions result in more complex and spicy notes, including anise, pepper and hedgerow berries.