2004 Chateau Margaux Premier Cru Classe, Margaux 1x750ml

Vinous 94/100

The 2004 Chateau Margaux is one of the dark horses of the decade. This bottle, which came directly from the chateau cellars, accidentally landing in my hands (long story), reconfirms the caliber. The bouquet takes a little time to find its feet, eventually offering richly layered scents with raspberry, blackberry, crushed rock and pencil shavings. It has tangible coolness, not powerful, but displaying exquisite delineation. The palate is wonderfully balanced, more pliant than recent vintages, fresh and tensile, with a little more firmness on the finish compared to my previous encounter six years earlier. This is well worth seeking out, and it will give 20 to 30 years of pleasure. [Neal Martin, 26/09/2023]

Anticipated maturity: 2023-2045

Robert Parker 94

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. Tasted September 2016. [Neal Martin, 28/09/2017]

Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050