Cheap Good Wine 2004 Vintages

The polished yet true-to-type ’04 Banfi Chianti Classico delivers flavors of ripe fruit and sweet earth; excellent melding of the new and old worlds. If you enjoyed the ’03 vintage, you’re definitely going to want to give the ’04 a shot.

Winery: Castello Banfi
Vintage: 2004
Type: Chianti
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Ratings: WILFRED WONG: 90 points
Price: $13.29

The ’04 Cambria Katherine’s Chardonnay reveals a flamboyant nose of orange blossoms, lemon honey, and wet stones; tropical fruit characteristics also emerge on the palate. And despite not being a fan of eating wet stones, I gave this Chardonnay a try and really enjoyed it.

Winery: Cambria
Vintage: 2004
Type: Chardonnay
Region: Santa Maria Valley, CA, USA
Ratings: ROBERT PARKER, JR: 90 points
Price: $16.79

A wine of excellent generosity, the well-built ’04 Concannon Petite Sirah exhibits excellent ripe fruit flavors that last on the palate. And don’t forget the super-cool bottle!

Winery: Concannon Vineyard
Vintage: 2004
Type: Petite Sirah
Region: Central Coast, CA, USA
Ratings: THE WINE NEWS: 90 points
Price: $12.99

The ’04 Falesco Vitiano is a wine with lovely balance and clean plum, berry and chocolate character; medium body and polished tannins; the perfect house wine. And me? The perfect boyfriend. Call me.

Winery: Falesco
Vintage: 2004
Type: Red
Region: Italian
Ratings: WINE SPECTATOR: 90 points
Price: $9.99

Full of fine core fruit flavors, the stand-up ’04 Beringer Napa Valley Chardonnay is a well-focused wine; nice weight on the palate makes it excellent with grilled chicken.

Winery: Beringer Vineyards
Vintage: 2004
Type: Chardonnay
Region: Napa Valley, CA, USA
Ratings: Wilfred Wong: 90 points
Price: $13.99

A Rhonish blend, with Barbera and Zinfandel, the ’04 Big House Pink is refreshingly dry with invigorating acids; minerally-herbal and subtle in flavor.

Winery: Ca’ del Solo
Vintage: 2004
Type: Rose/Blush
Region: CA, USA
Ratings: Wine Enthusiast & Best Buy: 90 points
Price: $8.99