Les Carmes Haut Brion 2004

An impressive perfume of blueberries, raspberries, graphite, cedar, and flowers suggestive of an outstanding wine soars from the glass of this 2004 Pessac-Leognan. A lush attack reveals excellent fruit, texture, and precision, but the wine narrows slightly in the finish. If it adds weight over the next few years, it will merit an outstanding rating. Give it 1-3 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 12-14. It is undeniably a sleeper of the vintage.

Revealing outstanding potential, the 2004 exhibits a deep ruby/purple-tinged color as well as a smoky nose of menthol, underbrush, sweet berries, and flowers. This delicate, gracious, medium-bodied effort possesses lovely sweetness and moderate tannin. It should turn out to be an excellent, possibly outstanding example of Les Carmes Haut-Brion. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018.