Again with the 2004 you say … it may have been an off year, but some of the stuff is quite good. Word on the street is that it wasn’t such a good year, but I would have to say I am more and more impressed with the wines that are coming out from this vintage, (or those still on the shelves). ’04 was considered by many to be a pretty average year in Ontario, some even say below average, especially for reds; but it really goes to prove the old adage about winemakers: any winemaker can make wine during the good years, it’s those tough vintages that separate the men from the boys - my apologies for my unintentional sexist comment to our winemaking ladies out there. Liubomir Popovici has been with Stoney Ridge now for about the 7 years and has proven himself year-after-year to be quite accomplished, so you’d expect something good even in bad years. This 2004 has good plum, blackberry, cinnamon and vanilla notes on the nose; while the tastes are more complex and rewarding. Initially, lots of oak, but as that blew off, in about fifteen minutes, I was left with a plethora of fruit and other flavours: black raspberry, sour cherry, pomegranate, some dark fruit like plum and cassis, then there was some chocolate and cinnamon thrown in for good measure – delicious. A good tannin backbone gave this wine some stand-up-ability, another three years and she’ll still be going strong. Cheers.