Price: $659.99
Tasted At: Calgary Co-op Wine and Spirits Crowfoot Tasting Centre - Berlin Challenge Tasting - $290.00
Reviewed By: Adrian Bryksa
Sometimes, the life of a professional wine writer has its perks and we just so happened to receive one from Erin Rosar from Co-op Wine and Spirits in the form of an invitation to attend their re-enactment of the 2004 Berlin tasting at their Crowfoot Tasting Centre. The Berlin tasting saw the top red wines of Chile challenge top houses from Bordeaux in France and Bolgheri on Italy’s Tuscan coast in a blind tasting. The Co-op tasting was conducted blind as wekk meaning that the wines were assessed as to what is in the glass, rather than what’s on the label. Tasting blind is fun lesson in humility so I prepared myself to be embarrassed and thankfully, my assessments weren’t a complete catastrophe. Check out the lineup below. The wines were decanted at least 4 + hours before the tasting occurred.
In the glass, this 04 Margaux had a purplish red core trailing slightly to its edges giving a vibe of it being fresher than its vintage. The bouquet exhibited notes of clay, black and red berry fruit, dried cranberry and mint. On the palate, this wine is monolithic in terms of its structure and size with powerful notes of spice tinged raspberry and sweet tobacco elevated by bright, slightly disjointed acidity and powerful tannins. Its lengthy finish were absolutely epic lasting over 45 seconds. This is a strong cellar play as it is only approaching its drinking window.
Conclusion: I look at this wine and I ask myself 3 questions. Was it amazing? Was it worth it and would I buy it again, if I had the money? I can answer yes to only the first as economically, I can buy a case of wine that is as good or better for the same price as 1 bottle of this 04 Margaux. All that said, if you were to offer me a glass, I certainly wouldn’t turn it down. A special thanks to Erin Rosar and her team of sommeliers from Co-op Wine and Spirits for hosting such an amazing event. Look forward to more reviews of the wines from this tasting coming soon.
92 Points
