2004 Chateau le Gay
By Chateau Le Gay
2004 Chateau le Gay from Chateau Le Gay, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France
In the realm of sophisticated Bordeaux investments, the 2004 Chateau le Gay from the esteemed Chateau Le Gay remains a consummate illustration of how a challenging Pomerol vintage can yield a wine of grace and standing. Nestled amongst the revered vineyards of Pomerol, Chateau Le Gay is an emblem of restrained excellence, consistently expressing the nuances of its terroir with elegant articulation.
Balance and Elegance: A Sophisticated Investment Choice
The year 2004 did not shout with the same intensity as its neighbors — 2003's heatwave opulence or 2005's structured perfection. Yet, within this relatively cooler and drier year in Bordeaux, the 2004 Chateau le Gay proffers a distinctive balance not to be overlooked by astute collectors and investors alike. This expressive vintage accentuates Pomerol’s classic finesse over power — it’s an offering that rewards those with patient palates and discerning cellars.
A Vintage Reflecting Time-Honoured Tradition
With its burgundy robe edging gracefully towards garnet hues, the 2004 Chateau le Gay presents aromas of ripe cherry and plum, interwoven with truffles and earthy undertones — a beguiling prelude to its evolved complexity. The palate unfurls layers of soft tannins and matured dark fruit notes that crown a well-judged structure. Cedar and hints of spice add intricacy to this wine's characterful profile.
Chateau Le Gay's commitment to quality resonated through this distinct vintage, showcasing both the promise of Pomerol's merlot-dominated blends and the richness attainable in more reserved years. A lighter touch in oaking has served to preserve the purity and nuanced earthiness of the fruit, ensuring that an optimal investment in 2004 Chateau le Gay yields dividends in taste as shrewdly as it does in potential appreciation.
For investors seeking to imbue their portfolio with a touch of Bordeaux's understated elegance, the 2004 Chateau le Gay is indeed one for considered inclusion. It stands as a fine exemplar of Pomerol's virtuosity; a wine that, even in an unsung vintage, expresses a poetic testament to the potential depths and longevity merlot can achieve when nurtured on such hallowed grounds.
Market price (CAD)
$1,920.00
12x75cl
Highest score
93
POP score
89.23
Scores and tasting notes
One of the vintage’s most astonishing wines, this superb effort boasts a dense plum/blue/purple color, aromas of camphor, graphite, roasted meats, and black as well as blue fruits, a full-bodied, powerful style, low acidity, ripe tannin, and excellent concentration. Give this beauty 3-4 years of bottle age, and enjoy it over the following two decades. It has the potential to be one of the vintage’s longest lived wines. Kudos to the proprietor, Catherine Pere-Verge, and her winemaker, Michel Rolland, for exploiting this property to its fullest potential.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 28 June 2007