2004 Vintage: General Appreciation
2004 has suffered perhaps more than any recent vintage (more so than the 2003’s) with a negative view right from the start (even before the harvest). I have had some really good experiences with 04’s including some excellent whites and some very appealing reds. It was quite a difficult growing season and all the way through much crop thinning was required. Summer was cooler than average and this caused considerable problems in terms of oidium (attacking the fruit not the leaves) and mould. At the end of August there was a damaging hail storm which hit Savigny Les Beaune, Beaune, Pommard and Volnay especially hard. September brought about fine weather and harvesting started on the 20th in the Cote de Beaune and the 24th in the Cote de Nuits. As ever, those who had undertaken the hard work in the vineyards and the sorting tables produced some highly attractive wines with the best showing elegance and succulent fruits. Careful selection is required with the 04’s.
Red Wines
The best of the reds where growers were diligent in achieving low yields and undertaking severe triage had fashioned some lovely wines. Many commentators were clear that they would be green, stalky and astringent possessing neither concentration or charm. I have had some excellent wines and the best are generously fruited with good structures. With careful selection there are some great wines that offer much more attractive prices when compared with other vintages, especially the 2005’s.
White Wines
I have had some excellent whites from this vintage, the best which are still enjoyable now. In general the 2004’s have excellent acidity, deep and rich fruits and are finely balanced. Most of the wines have hit their peak and are drinking perfectly now.

Best Red Wines of the Vintage

Red Wines of the Vintage

Gevrey Chambertin: Chapelle Chambertin (Ponsot), Griotte Chambertin (Ponsot), Mazis Chambertin (Dugat-Py), Mazoyères Chambertin (Perrot Minot)

Morey Saint Denis: Clos Saint Denis (Bertagna), Clos Saint Denis (Rousseau), Clos de Tart (Mommessin)

Chambolle Musigny: Musigny (JF Mugnier), Musigny (Jacques Prieur)

Clos Vougeot: Clos Vougeot (Engel)

Vosne Romanée: Échezeaux (Grivot), Richebourg (Hudelot-Noëllat), Richebourg (Meo  Camuzet), Richebourg (Thibault Liger-Belair), Romanée Saint Vivant (JJ Confuron), Romanée Saint Vivant (Hudelot-Noëllat), Vosne Romanée Les Brülées (Engel), Vosne Romanée Aux Brülées (Meo Camuzet), Vosne Romanéee Cros Parantoux (Meo Camuzet), Vosne Romanée Aux Reignots (Arnoux), Vosne Romane Les Suchots (Arlot)

Nuits Saint Georges: Nuits Saint Georges Les Boudots (Meo Camuzet)

Beaune: Beaune Greves Vignes de l’Enfant Jesus (Bouchard)

Best White Wines of the Vintage

White Wines of the Vintage

Pernand Vergelesses/Aloxe Corton: Corton Charlemagne (Henri Boillot), Corton Charlemagne (Bonneau du Martray)

Meursault: Meursault (Coche-Dury), Meursault Les Genevrieres (Coche Dury), Meursault Les Genevrieres (Henri Boillot), Meursault Les Genevrieres (Lafon), Meursault Goutte d’Or (Lafon),Meursault Les Perrieres (Henri Boillot), Meursault Les Perrieres (Comtes Lafon)

Puligny Montrachet: Batard Montrachet (Domaine Leflaive), Batard Montrachet (Pernot), Batard Montrachet (Sauzet), Bienvenues Batard Montrachet (Louis Carillon), Bienvenues Batard Montrachet (Pernot), Bienvenues Batard Montrachet (Ramonet), Chevalier Montrachet (Domaine Leflaive), Chevalier Montrachet (Sauzet), Chevalier Montrachet Les Demoiselles (Jadot), Montrachet (Henri Boillot), Montrachet (Bouchard), Montrachet (Lafon), Montrachet (Marquis de Laguiche/Drouhin), Montrachet (Jacques Prieur), Montrachet (DRC), Montrachet (Sauzet), Puligny Montrachet Champs Canet (Louis Carillon), Puligny Montrachet Les Combettes (Domaine Leflaive), Puligny Montrachet Les Perrieres (Louis Carillon), Puligny Montrachet Les Pucelles (Domaine Leflaive), Puligny Montrachet Les Pucelles (Pernot), Puligny Montrachet Les Pucelles (Domaine Leflaive), Puligny Montrachet Les Referts (Louis Carillon)

Chassagne Montrachet: Batard Montrachet (Blain-Gagnard), Criots Batard Montrachet (Henri Boillot), Criots Batard Montrachet (Fontaine-Gagnard), Batard Montrachet (Ramonet), Chassagne Montrache Blanchots Dessus (Jean-Noel Gagnard), Chassagne Montrachet Les Caillerets (Bernard Morey), Chassagne Montrachet Les Caillerets (Jean-Noel Gagnard), Chassagne Montrachet La Romanée (Vincent Dancer), Chassagne Montrachet La Romanée (Fontaine-Gagnard), Chassagne Montrachet Les Ruchottes (Ramonet), Montrachet (Fontaine-Gagnard), MonTâchet (Ramonet)