2004 Côte-Rôtie Domaine Michel Ogier

After a 2003 which was touched by the scorching vintage, this is a triumphant 2004. Stéphane feels that it has the fruit of 2000 and the structure of 2001; praise indeed but thoroughly deserved. With exposure to new oak only in the first year of maturation and only 30% at that, the wine is classically balanced with notes of tapenade and blackberry harmoniously integrated and an assertive fraîcheur on the palate.