A cooler year than 2003 or 2005, and the precision is clear, with layers of tight black fruits, cedar and fresh mint confidently on display. It's pretty austere right now, but its weight and texture is far more impressive than its youth. In vintages like this, it's clear that the terroir always takes precedence here. There is 90% new oak here, and yet you barely get a whisper of it besides the soft, cold ash smoke on the finish.
Tasted by Jane Anson (at Decanter's Fine Wine Encounter 2018, Shanghai, 17 Nov 2018)
Part of Anson: Tasting Léoville Las Cases wines back to 1989

Intense aromas of currant, blackberry and light vanilla. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, caressing finish. Layered, with everything in the right proportion for the vintage. Excellent. Reminds me of the 1996. JS

Still showing nice depth of color, with wet earth, ocean, truffle, blackberry and campfire embers are found with only a little effort. The tannins have softened, leaving you with a classically styled, mouthful of black cherry liqueur and fennel that shifts from black fruit to red fruit and back to black again. Drink now, or age it 5-8 years for more softness and complexity. Due to the vintage, this is probably well priced in the marketplace today. Tasted Jan 2015

Showing beautifully, with a classic elegance and beautiful complexity, the 2004 Saint-Julien reveals a healthy ruby hue as well as textbook currants, lead pencil shavings, dried tobacco, and dried flower-like aromas and flavors. It shows the more streamlined, elegant style of the vintage yet has plenty of sweet fruit, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. It's drinking at point today yet should continue evolving and drinking nicely for 15-20 years or so.

Dark red, paling rim, youthful; dense, freshly ripe, aromatic, but undeveloped nose; rich, fairly full bodied wine, generous in fruit, with a fresh acidity and firm, fine tannin; both ripe and ‘gravelly’ in flavour, long across the palate, complex, aromatic, fine, and with excellent length; a complete, without being a grand, Las Cases. Needs time, will be very satisfying.
[M Schuster March 2014]

Performing better from bottle than it did from cask, this blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Franc has put on weight over the last year. It exhibits the classic style of both Las Cases and St.-Julien in its deep black currant notes interwoven with sweet cherries, wet stones, and toasty vanillin. Made in a structured, medium to full-bodied style with superb concentration, beautiful purity, and admirable symmetry, this beauty is one of the strongest efforts of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2028.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #171, Jun 2007)

The 2004 Léoville–Las Cases has the tough job of following the 2005. It offers black fruit mixed with sous-bois, smoke and sage aromas, now moving into its secondary stage but without the intensity of great vintages like 2005 or 2010. The palate is well balanced, with off-dry tannin. Classic in style, fresh and poised, leading to a lovely, quite sensual finish that leaves you wishing for another sip. Very fine.

Quality 849 | Brand 994 | Economics 895 | buzz brand
Quality: Predicted life of 13 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group for the 2004 vintage, which averages 8 years Brand: Strong restaurant presence, featuring on 42 of the world's top wine lists, including Tim Raue Economics: Above its peer group average price of £40 for the 2004 vintage Production: Lower production than its peer group average of 186,000 bottles

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017