Harvested at 14.5 natural potential alcohol, the 2004 Saint-Veran Terroirs de Davaye Terres Noires bursts from the glass with smoky, toasty oak aromas. This silky-textured wine exhibits outstanding concentration, freshness, and length. It spicy, oak-laced character is sensual, packed with glycerin, and reveals an anise-filled finish. Drink it over the next 2-3 years. “This was a difficult vintage, no doubt,” said Christophe Cordier, “We never stopped working for an instant.” He went on to add that even though the July 20 hail storm devastated some of his best parcels (there is no Pouilly-Fuisse Metertiere in 2004, for example), “We were still luckier than our friends in the Cote de Beaune because here in the south we actually got some sun and warmth at times.” Cordier did two harvests in his Pouilly-Fuisse vineyards, declassifying the first fruit that was picked to make a Macon-Fuisse and only using the results of his second, later harvests for his Pouilly-Fuisses. In addition, Cordier sorted through all the clusters, throwing out all the ones damaged by hail or oidium.Various American importers including Weygandt-Metzler, Peter Weygandt, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800