Published in the Year's Best 2004

Wines, Spirits and Beers published in the the Year's Best 2004 issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

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Macallan Fine Oak 15-Year-Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky

Best Buy

Price $65

An initial bouquet of the dried yellow fruit found in muesli; later on, added scents of unsweetened coconut, honey, and light toffee beautifully complement the dried fruit aroma. The palate entry is chewy and honeyed; at midpalate the dried fruit, clover, and honey flavors meld delightfully with the oily, creamy texture. Concludes sensuously and regally. Best Buy. — P.P. (12/31/2004)

96-100

points

Macallan Fine Oak 21-Year-Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky

Price $220

The early bouquet is round, biscuity, and a touch spicy; further aeration reveals a deep aroma of butterscotch, cream, vanilla, marzipan, and candied almond. The palate entry is vividly spirity as the alcohol slightly pricks the tongue; the midpalate stage displays solid flavors of dried orange rind, white raisins, marmalade, and figs. Finishes elegantly and sweet. — P.P. (12/31/2004)

96-100

points

Scott’s Selection Glenrothes 1973 Speyside Single Malt Whisky

Price $165

The opening nose is toasty, malty and dry; aeration releases deeper aromas of milk chocolate, honey, vanilla frosting and dates. The palate entry is decadently oily, creamy and spirity; at midpalate the flavor turns sweet, cocoa-like and concentrated. Concludes velvety, honeyed and downright voluptuous. I suggest a minimal addition of room temperature mineral water… — P.P. (12/31/2004)

96-100

points

Scott’s Selection Highland Park 1985 Orkney Islands Single Malt Whisky

Price $200

The first inhalations find peat reek, seaweed, sawdust and malt; aeration adds scents of almond butter, smoked salmon, damp moss and green tea. The surprising palate entry is long, honey sweet, biscuity and moderately oily; at midpalate the taste profile further develops to include sea breeze, cigar tobacco, kippers and Sherry. Ends delicately Sherried, creamy and… — P.P. (12/31/2004)

96-100

points

Germain-Robin Anno Domini 2005 Alambic Brandy

Price $350

An initial aroma of yellow fruit and spice; after further air contact a stunning bouquet of tobacco leaf, tea leaves, burnt orange rind, combed cotton and grapefruit emerges. The palate entry is gently sweet and grapy; by midpalate the taste becomes intensely raisin-and-guava-like. Concludes with incredible finesse and tropical fruit lushness. — P.P. (12/31/2004)

points

Pine Ridge 2002 Le Petit Clos Chardonnay (Stags Leap District)

Price $50

Brutally good, a wine so powerful in ripe tropical fruits and new smoky oak that it just detonates the palate. Huge, mouth-filling flavors of mango and pineapple, caramelized oak, butterscotch, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, toast and who knows what else cascade in waves, ending in a super-long, sweet finish. Massive, but balanced and elegant. If it had a slightly… — S.H. (12/31/2004)

points

Saxum 2002 Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard Syrah (Paso Robles)

Price $52

This is awesome Syrah. It starts with wonderfully rich and inviting aromas of Provencal herbs, such as thyme, bay leaf and rosemary, and a note of lavender. The fruit is all cherries and blackberries, sweet and pure, seasoned with smoky oak. Fresh in acids, backed with firm but soft and complex tannins, this is a dramatic and beautiful wine. What a long, rich finish. — S.H. (12/31/2004)

points

Schramsberg 1998 J. Schram Sparkling (Napa County)

Price $80

Ultra-refined, super-elegant, the superlatives go on and on. Pours clear and bright, with the most subtle and inviting aromas, all dough and smoke and custardy vanilla with that tease of strawberry. So silky and light on the palate, airy, like silk, and perfectly dosed to a smooth dryness. You will find youthful acidity and scour on the finish, suggesting a wine… — S.H. (12/31/2004)

2010 Bogle Old Vine

What a delicious Zin this is. Sourced from the warm climates of Lodi and…

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