I cannot think of a single CA of '04 that is long term collectable that has even been barrel sampled, let alone bottled. Delivery is well over a year away.


I have not seen any comments on the 04 CA vintage that mean anything.

03 CA is quite good, and available only as a future. Delivery may be this fall, or maybe not until spring.

Perhaps you can buy an 04 future directly from the vineyard. I have no experience with that. Collectable CA's are $100 to $150 a bottle. Look at Diamond Creek, Paul Hobbs, Phelps, and Peter Michael. For a bit less, (maybe $80-90), one can get a Ridge Montebello, or a Montelena. All have good label recognition.

Bordeaux 04 has been sampled, and futures are coming on the market now. The wine will not become available for a year or two. The firsts are under $2000 a case, so the CA firsts are the same price as the French firsts!