Vinous (96)

The flagship 2007 Barolo Riserva Runcot is remarkably fresh for the year. Sweet, perfumed and sensual, the 2007 wraps around the palate with stunning depth and sheer radiance. Layers of expressive red fruit, flowers, spices and mint all come to life as the wine opens up. The Runcot captures the best qualities of the year; deep fruit, expressive aromatics and wonderful nuance, all in a soft, supple wine that should enjoy a long drinking window. I can't wait to see how the 2007 ages. Today it is seamless and utterly impeccable from the very first taste. This is without question one of the great 2007s. Grasso gave the 2007 40 days on the skins, followed by 45 months in 100% new French oak barrels, all of which the wine handles with grace to burn.

Halliday Wine Companion (93)

Deep colour; as befits the very complex blend, powerful and complex, yet retains suppleness through the array of red and blackcurrant fruit. Barossa Valley (48%)/Adelaide Hills (42%)/Coonawarra (10%).

James Suckling (96)

Decadent and rich with mango, papaya, citrus, and mineral. Slate too. Full-bodied, dry and fruity. It really shows great length and complexity. First vintage of this single vineyard wine from the best parcel of the Schonenberg. Contrasty. Drink now.

Vinous (93)

Bright, deep red. Knockout aromas and flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, crushed stone and smoky minerality. Wonderfully deep, tangy and sweet, with a captivating creamy texture making this deceptively tastable today. Impressive today for its volume, and finishes very long, broad and classically dry, with substantial fine-grained tannins. As delicious as this is right now, its overall balance suggests it will reward a decade of aging. For his part, Mugnier says that virtually every vintage of his Musigny needs ten years in the bottle.

Wine Advocate (98)

One of the most colossal wines in all of my tastings was Jim Barry’s 2004 Shiraz The Armagh, a 100% Shiraz aged 16 months in French and American oak. It is an opaque purple-hued, super-intense effort displaying great precision and richness. Notes of melted asphalt, acacia flowers, blueberries, blackberries, charcoal, and espresso roast emerge from this full, dense, opulent Shiraz. The finish lasts for over 45 seconds. This is a great example of one of the icons of Australian Shiraz. Anticipated maturity: now-2025.

Vinous (97+)

Krug's 2004 Vintage is absolutely mesmerizing. Layers of bright, chiseled fruit open up effortlessly as the wine fleshes out with time in the glass. Persistent and beautifully focused, with a translucent sense of energy, the 2004 captures all the best qualities of the year. Moreover, the 2004 is clearly superior to the consistently underwhelming 2002 and the best Krug Vintage since 1996. Readers who can find it should not hesitate, as it is a magical bottle.

Vinous (98+)

The 2004 Clos du Mesnil captures all the pedigree of this epic Blanc des Blancs vintage. A soaring, majestic Champagne, the 2004 dazzles from the very first taste with its crystalline purity and brightness. In two tastings so far, the 2004 has been nothing less than a total showstopper. The vertical structure and pure, tightly-coiled power are the stuff dreams are made of. There is little doubt the 2004 is one of the very finest Clos du Mesnils in recent memory. Will it join the 1979, 1988 and 1996 as one of the all-time greats? Now, that is a tasting I would love to do!

Wine Spectator (95-100)

Fascinating aromas of plums, dried flowers and hints of toasty oak. Full-bodied and muscular, with a long finish. Very, very impressive. Racy and well-toned for the vintage. Very well structured. Score range: 95-100

Vinous (96)

Tasted from magnum, the 2004 Grande Cuvée Rosé Alexandra, Laurent-Perrier’s flagship Rosé is a blend of 80% Pinot Noir (on the skins) and 20% Chardonnay vinified together that has only been bottled seven times since 1982. From the very first taste, the 2004 is utterly spectacular. Rich, ample and vertical in feel, the 2004 is dazzling. Dried rose petal, star anise, tobacco, dried flowers, red berry fruit and earthy notes all grace this utterly exquisite Champagne. As good as the 2004 is today – and it is fabulous – it will be even better in another few years’ time. The 2004 has been nothing short of magnificent on both occasions I have tasted it so far.

Vinous (89)

Good full medium red. Complex nose combines red fruits, pepper, smoke and a hint of orange peel. Silky, suave and perfumed; not especially primary but quite stylish and pliant. Finishes with distinctly suaver tannins than the examples from Nuits-Saint-Georges and good aromatic lift.

Wine Advocate (96)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain opens with provocative dark chocolate and black cherries notes with underlying notions of tilled soil, plum preserves, spice cake, cracked pepper and yeast extract plus a waft of truffles. Big, concentrated, full-bodied and muscular in the mouth, the palate offers a very firm backbone and wonderful freshness supporting the generous fruit, finishing on a persistent mineral note

Wine Advocate (96)

Following the appreciation of the 2007 vintage from María José López de Heredia, the red 2007 Viña Tondonia Reserva is showing great, revealing unusual finesse and elegance. The nose is a little reticent but nuanced and complex, a little shy rather than explosive. The palate is medium-bodied, and the tannins are very refined. This has to be one of the finest vintages of Viña Tondonia Reserva of recent years. 200,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2015.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

The 2004 Cristal has always been one of my favorites. It is all that again today. A Champagne of precision and nuance, the 2004 impresses with its linear cut and saline intensity. Readers will find a Cristal built on vibrancy more than power or opulence. In this tasting, the 2004 is an absolute stunner. These were the highest yields, even in Champagne. “We dropped half the crop on the Chardonnay and still picked 18,000 kilos (per hectare). That’s massive. We would have picked 25,000 otherwise.” I have always loved the 2004 for its purity. That quality is very much on display today. This is an especially fine bottle, the best I have tasted so far. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. Disgorged: 2011.

Vinous (97+)

Long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon has produced yet another in a string of superb Champagnes with the 2007 Cristal. Rich, powerful and enveloping, the 2007 takes hold of all the senses and never lets up. The aromatics alone are captivating, but then the wine opens on the palate, revealing layer after layer of flavor to match a multi-dimensional, kaleidoscopic personality that will leave Champagne lovers weak at the knees. The 2007 is 58% Chardonnay and 42% Pinot Noir, which is to say a bit more Chardonnay-leaning than is the norm. The 2007 is striking today, but it should also age effortlessly for several decades. It is also without question one of the very finest new releases of the year.

Jancis Robinson (17.5)

Smoke, leaf litter, black cherry, very fine, misted tannins. Dry and stately. Lots of structure and not so much fruit power as some other vintages. Lovely expressive nose though – a really delicate example.

Among the remarkable barolos, the Oreste Stefano Barolo Perno 2007 signals a prestigious blend of artisanal winemaking and high-quality Nebbiolo grapes. This exquisite bottle traces its origins to the sunny vineyards of Barolo, nestled into Italy's renowned Langhe region. Prestigious Italian winemaker Oreste Stefano is lauded for his meticulous vinification techniques, effectively marrying Barolo's distinct traditional style with others of greater finesse.

Structured with 24 months ageing in large Slavonian oak barrels and a further six years bottle ageing, this Oreste Stefano Barolo Perno 2007 offers an extraordinary complexity of aroma, with extraordinary flavours of dark fruit, spice, tobacco leaf and dark chocolate woven through a robust structure and enduring finish. Its expressive layers sing on the palate, revealing why it is adored amongst connoisseurs.

Another reputable performance from Oreste Stefano, the 2007 Barolo Perno perfectly defines why this vineyard is rated so highly in the Barolo sub-region. Stock is limited; secure your bottle of Oreste Stefano Barolo Perno 2007 while supplies last.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2007 Barolo Riserva Ginestra is born in extremely difficult conditions. Fruit is sourced from a hillside plot with impossibly steep inclines and shallow soils (with white tufo and clay) for limited root penetration. These factors help curb the natural vigor of the grapevine and result in high quality fruit. This wine sees a long maceration period (up to 40 days) and almost six years of barrel aging in botte grande. The results are spectacular with rich floral and menthol aromas folded within the wine’s silky texture. This 2007 Riserva feels much younger than it really is. Drink: 2016-2035.

Wine Advocate (96)

The estate's 2004 Barolo Bric del Fiasc is another awesome wine. Initially linear on entry, it explodes on the palate with a compelling array of dark fruit, smoke, tar, licorice, new leather, plums and baking spices. Although Bric del Fiasc is typically a wine that relies on power, the 2004 is notably refined and elegant, with sweet silky tannins that support the fruit from start to finish. Simply put, this is a remarkable wine from Enrico Scavino. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022.

Wine Advocate (96)

The estate's 2004 Barolo Bric del Fiasc is another awesome wine. Initially linear on entry, it explodes on the palate with a compelling array of dark fruit, smoke, tar, licorice, new leather, plums and baking spices. Although Bric del Fiasc is typically a wine that relies on power, the 2004 is notably refined and elegant, with sweet silky tannins that support the fruit from start to finish. Simply put, this is a remarkable wine from Enrico Scavino. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022.

Vinous (94)

The 2004 Barolo Carobric is in a great place today where it is starting to show the first signs of aromatic complexity, yet it also clearly has plenty of upside for the future. Firm yet nicely integrated tannins give the 2004 much of its energy. Sweet tobacco, plums, underbrush, cherries and melted road tar linger on the multi-faceted finish. Carobric is a blend of fruit from Cannubi, Rocche di Castiglione and Bric del Fiasc.

Imbued with the polyphonic symphony of Tuscan terroir, the Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 originates from Montalcino's ripest Sangiovese grapes. Produced in the San Polo winery, owned by the illustrious Allegrini family, the generous contribution of marly soils and climatic conditions honours it with a grand finesse and complexity.

Aged in French tonneaux and large Slavonian oak barrels, its compositions wonderfully evolve over five years resulting in a luscious spectrum of dark fruits, spices, and earthy undertones. Its sheer brilliance manifests in its harmonious balance of acidity, tannins, and svelte, full-bodied structure.

With a unique ability to unfurl its full potential when decanted, Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 reinforces its standing as an Eden of enological excellence. Savour this liquid poetry to experience a profound immersion into an ineffable Italian winemaking tradition.

Jancis Robinson (19)

Tasted blind. Mytik cork. Deep gold. Deep and rich on the nose and very appealing. Tightly laced with a tiny bead. Some savoury notes with a suggestion of gunflint. Real race and pace.

Wine Advocate (96)

This was a superb showing for the 2007 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes, a brilliant wine that bursts from the glass with a complex and maturing bouquet of red cherries, caramelized orange rind, cinnamon, potpourri and sweet soil tones. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, textural and satiny, with a concentrated, layered core, tangy acids and a stunningly long, sapid finish. This has always been a brilliant wine that transcends the vintage, but new dimensions are becoming apparent as it enters its second decade. This was the last vintage bottled under natural cork chez Ponsot.

James Suckling (95)

Wow. Minerals, cedar, almost like warm stones in the heat. And then some spice. A wine that's gorgeous, beautiful to taste now, but you know there's so much more coming to it. Will be better in three to five years. But it's already gorgeous - decant a couple hours in advance.