News Flash: 2004 might be a controversial vintage! Well, now that I’ve got that off my chest…
We’ve generally had very good luck with 2004 red burgundy. From Gevrey to Volnay, we’ve had bottles that were enjoyable and not overrun by greenie meanies. Whether that’s an indicator of luck or just low sensitivity to the phenomenon, I don’t know. But it’s allowed us to enjoy some nice wines at good prices. Michelle actually mentioned something along those lines when I was popping the cork. No doubt that was tempting fate just a little too much…
2004 Domaine Robert Arnoux / Arnoux-Lachaux Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots: Shockingly mature brown-bricked color. Nose of crushed cranberry, but muted. Not looking good so far - certainly nothing that screams Vosne, let alone Suchots. Palate offered the same crushed tart cranberry, but lurking at the back was an underlying current of something bitter and unattractive. Another taste, and I actually recoiled from the glass. Vegetal, green, unripe flavors, with a hint of bitter almond. No Asian spice, not even a glimpse of the new oak that I might expect at this point. We’re the type of people who, when alone, are willing to persevere through a questionable bottle in the name of education. Maybe it will be better with food. Maybe the odd flavors will blow off in time. This time there was no redemption for the wine. I gave up after the first glass. The remainder is still in the fridge (education or masochism - there’s probably a fine line here!) to be approached again today, but I suspect it’s headed down the drain.