Long Agers from 2004

S

Steven Spielmann

Steven Spielmann
So way back I posted about wanting to get some wines for my daughter to have later on from her birth year. Thanks to several of you, especially Greg and Levi, I managed to pick out some good Barolos for her which are now in deep storage.

I'm thinking of buying a bit more, though, so I'm wondering if any of you have had any wines from 2004 from anywhere in the world that you are convinced will age indefinitely (or 25+ years at least). I know the vintage generalizations and all that, I was just wondering if any of you had '04's you had drunk yourselves that you would stand behind for very long aging. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
 
My inventory shows decent amounts of 2004 from: Allemand, Chevillon, CRB, Clos Rougeard, Cotat(s), Dauvissat, Hirtzberger, Knoll, Ollivier, Ridge, Texier.

Of those, Allemand, Rougeard, Hirtzberger and Knoll (GVs), Ollivier, Ridge, and Texier seem like decent bets for the long run, though 25 years is probably going to be near the outer limit for most of them. Monte Bello, Briords, Honivogl, Bourg, Reynard, those are probably the long-distance runners of my group.
 
Some ideas:

Mayacamas Cabernet ($65 from the winery or $60 Liner & Elsen)
Travaglini Gattinara Riserva ($45 from a bunch of places in NJ)
Le Presi Brunello di Montalcino ($43 BudgetBottle or MacArthur)
Levet Cote-Rotie La Chavaroche ($70 Sussex or Astor or $62 Brooklyn Wine Exchange, whoever they are)
Boulard Les Rachais Blanc de Blancs ($56 Astor)
 
I was thinking about the Monte Bello actually. It's a bit lighter than normal in '04 which might bode well for down the line. The back label says it should fully develop 15-20 years after vintage, so presumably alive at 30 isn't out of the question.

I had a chance to buy several bottles of Rougeard '04's a few years ago at Whole Foods of all places, including Bourg, and at a decent price to boot. Idiotically, I didn't. It has taken me a while to learn that if you don't spend the money now sometimes you won't get another chance.

Thanks, SFJoe!
 
And Keith! Stuff that's actually in stock at stores right now - what an idea...

Champagne, like Piedmont, is a plausible place to poke around in general in 2004. Will the Boulard really go that long?
 
My son is also an '04, so we've been laying down various wines for future celebrations. I took a more comprehensive view of the situation and got wines to drink over the next 20-25 years, after which time I probably won't give a shit. Looking at my list, Piemonte weighs in as the longest-term prospect, but pick your favorite Bordeaux estates from that year, too. I've got some '04 Muscadet still to be drunk (L d'Or and Clos de Briords), Ridge, Joe Swan, Laurel Glen, St. Innocent and Lagier-Meredith. Then there are the odds and ends from the Rhone (Beaucastel, VT and Pegau; Chave and Gonon). The longest-lived wines from '04 that we have, though, are the Barbarescos from the Produttori.

Mark Lipton
 
I think claret is a pretty good bet, and prices for 2004s are not as stupid. Both LMHB and HB did well, white and red. I really liked some right bankers as well, although I am unsure how long-lived and interesting Pomerol really is. LMHB is probably the only of the big-name clarets I still buy some of every vintage. Don't know the Sauternes and Barsac from that vintage, sorry.

Michel Brégeon is releasing another 2004. It's very nice. I don't think I've had anything else from France recently that impressed me greatly (and is a candidate for long aging), but I am getting old and my memory is poor.

Iberia - I thought Rioja had a good year? In port, I've liked most of them - it might have helped that it was a 2003 vs. 2004 tasting. I bought some Fonseca Guimaraens.

In Italy, both north and south Piedmont. Perhaps even Veneto?

Germany - now we're talking. The acidities of many MSRs have settled. I have Vollenweider's Spätlese Portz in all sizes. Prüm, JJ. Egon Müller. Maximin Grünhaus. Elsewhere, Keller. The auction Auslesen were especially fine in a high-toned fashion.
 
Of '04s I've had of late, I'd toss in P. Peters '04 Les Chetillons as a good prospect for aging 20+ years, and, as per Mark, celebrations along the way (post 2020).
 
2004 Il Poggione and Il Poggione Riserva, both at decent prices.

and if you want to have wines that are likely to stretch well beyond 25 years try:

Monfortino
Giacosa Rocche Riserva
Giacosa Asili Riserva
Giacosa Rabaja

The tariffs are super high, but I am sure your daughter (and her family) will appreciate them.

[Edit] Oh, and do not forget to keep building up the mandatory case of Monprivato!!!
 
originally posted by kirk wallace:
Of '04s I've had of late, I'd toss in P. Peters '04 Les Chetillons as a good prospect for aging 20+ years, and, as per Mark, celebrations along the way (post 2020).
Click to expand...

Oh, yes.
 
originally posted by Steven Spielmann: Long Agers from 2004So way back I posted about wanting to get some wines for my daughter to have later on from her birth year. ... I'm wondering if any of you have had any wines from 2004 from anywhere in the world that you are convinced will age indefinitely (or 25+ years at least).
Click to expand...

Steven, Probably my top three suggestions would be Ch de Beaucastel CNdP '04, Dom de Pegau CNdP Reservee '04, and Pichon Baron '04.

. . . . . . Pete
 
Depending on how much you want to spend and how much it's eventually released for Taittinger Compte de Champagne is a pretty sure bet for aging if you can find a place to store the annoyingly weird shaped bottles.

Muscadet if you can still find it, definitely.
 
On the presumption that most kids want to drink contrary to their father's preferences, you should probably lay away some Australian wines from the very good 2004 vintage. The upper-tier wines from Penfolds (Grange in particular) and Henschke will go the distance, as will Torbreck's Shiraz-based wines (Factor, Descendant, and RunRig) and the 100% Grenache Les Amis. You'll also probably be surprised that all of these wines will mellow out considerably over time and will be intriguing to Daddy's old world palate.

-Eden (besides, when you're 70 years old you're probably only going to be able to enjoy fruit-forward wines anyway, so having a few of these in the cellar will satisfy both ends of the spectrum)
 
Macarthur has just listed a one week brunello sale. The Le Presi Keith notes is $37.50 and there are a bunch of others. Their site might be worth a visit.
 
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