en primeur > Bordeaux 2005 Revisited > vintage report > product listing
white rosé red all prices exclude VAT and duty
Chateau La Tour de By 2005
Score: 87-88 RP Commune: Haut-Medoc
"Space limitations did not allow complete tasting notes for this Cru Bourgeois, but 2005 is the finest vintage for these wines since 1982. The range of scores for these wines should give readers an idea of just how consistent this vintage is at this level. Given the style of the vintage, most of these wines should be accessible young yet evolve for a decade or more because of their concentration and tannic structure." Robert Parker
£120
Chateau Lanessan 2005 HALVES
Score: 90 RP Commune: Haut-Medoc
"Shrewd Bordeaux buyers have long followed this excellent Medoc estate, whose wine can easily be confused with a St.-Julien or Pauillac. The 2005 is an undeniable sleeper of the vintage. Dark plum/purple-tinged with a beautiful nose of new saddle leather, spice box, black currants, and a hint of unsmoked cigar tobacco, it offers medium body, admirable richness, decent acidity, and ripe tannin. Although it will be drinkable in 4-5 years, these wines have an excellent track record of evolving for two decades or more." Robert Parker
£115
Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2005 12 x 75cl
Score: 91 RP Commune: Margaux
"While I would not rank the 2005 Le Pin as highly as the 2001, 2000, 1998, 1989, 1983, or 1982, it is still a beautiful wine offering a deep ruby/purple color along with an open-knit nose of caramel, coconut, coffee, melted chocolate, and sweet, jammy black cherry and currant fruit. The alluring fragrance is followed by an opulent, luscious Pomerol with flamboyant flavors of ripe black fruits intermixed with hints of roasted herbs, meat juices, plums, and Asian spices. Unfortunately, the world�s billionaires quickly gobble up Le Pin�s 500 cases, even at preposterously high prices. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025." Robert Parker
£650
Rausan Gassies 2005
Score: 92 RP Commune: Margaux
£290
Chateau Palmer 2005
Score: 97 RP Commune: Margaux
"This spectacular offering should continue to improve, and may merit an even higher score after additional aging. Stunningly rich and powerful, the dark purple-tinged 2005 Palmer is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot. Aromas of incense, burning embers, black currants, plums, licorice, and flowers are followed by a full-bodied Margaux with more weight and power even than its nearby first-growth rival, Chateau Margaux. The abundant acidity and tannins are beautifully coated by the wine’s exceptional fruit extract and overall harmony and richness. It is so concentrated that one is hard pressed to find even a hint of new oak. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2045+" Robert Parker
£2300
Chateau Lascombes 2005
Score: 95 RP Commune: Margaux
"A gorgeous example of Lascombes, the 2005, a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, continues the remarkable turn-around in quality that began five years ago. A stunningly opulent wine with a dense purple color, the 2005 possesses a beautiful perfume of spring flowers, blueberries, blackberries, creosote, and graphite, full body, silky but noticeable tannins, a layered mouthfeel, and a stunning, 45+-second finish. This is a brilliant, modern-styled Margaux that should age for 30-35 years." Robert Parker
£460
Chateau Durfort Vivens 2005 MAGNUMS
Score: n/a Commune: Margaux
Not reviewed by Robert Parker
£220
Chateau Prieure Lichine 2005 MAGNUMS
Score: 92 RP Commune: Margaux
"The finest Prieure-Lichine I have ever tasted, the sensational 2005 has unquestionably benefitted from the improvements made at this property as well as the consultation work of Stephane Derenoncourt. Its dense purple color is accompanied by a glorious perfume of forest floor, blackberries, incense, and cassis. Opulent, with sweet tannin for the vintage, excellent purity, and a savory, broad, expansive mouthfeel that lingers on the palate, it possesses the delicacy of a terrific Margaux as well as enough concentration and power to give it an extra dimension. This wine should be drinkable in 4-5 years, and last for 25 or more. Bravo!" Robert Parker
£265
Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2005
Score: 96 RP Commune: Pauillac
"A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Merlot, the 2005 boasts a dark ruby/purple color in addition to that exceptional Lafite perfume of graphite, spring flowers, crushed rocks, and sweet black cherry and black currant fruit that exudes class and nobility. The wine is medium-bodied with extremely high levels of tannin in addition to sensational purity, length, and overall harmony. However, it is exceptionally backward, and even more tannic than either the 1995 or 1996."
£9350
Chateau Lynch Bages 2005 6 x 75cl
Score: 91 RP Commune: Pauillac
"This outstanding effort is slightly lighter, more streamlined and delicate than followers of Lynch Bages have come to expect after such great vintages as 1982, 1989, 1990, 1996, and 2000. A deep ruby/purple hue is accompanied by a classic Medoc nose of tapenade, roasted herbs, licorice, cedar, black currants, and damp earth. Medium-bodied with moderate tannin, sweet fruit, and surprising softness as well as forwardness for a 2005 northern Medoc, it can be drunk now and over the next 20+ years." Robert Parker
£420
Chateau Pichon Baron 2005
Score: 94 RP Commune: Pauillac
"As usual, this superb Pauillac possesses an inky/blue/black color in addition to a big, sweet nose of graphite, charcoal, burning embers, black currant liqueur, and toasty vanillin from new oak casks. Full-bodied with high but sweet, well-integrated tannins, the 2005 Pichon Baron is more backward than the blockbuster 2003 or prodigious 2000. Nevertheless, it is a superb effort whose power, length, and tannic structure suggest it should be at its peak between 2015-2035." Robert Parker
£900
Les Forts de Latour 2005
Score: 92 RP Commune: Pauillac
"The 2005 Forts de Latour (10,000 cases produced) possesses much of the same character as Latour, but sweeter tannins, more obvious and forward fruit, medium to full body, and a more seductive, plusher style, but not the great stature, richness, and architectural precision of its bigger brother. Nevertheless, it is a gorgeous Pauillac that should drink well for two decades or more." Robert Parker
£0.00
Chateau Haut Batailley 2005
Score: 89 RP Commune: Pauillac
"Proprietor Xavier Borie has turned out a beautiful silky-textured Pauillac revealing classic creme de cassis, licorice, and tar-like characteristics interwoven with cedar and roasted herb notes. Medium-bodied and elegant, it is more St.-Julien-like in personality than Pauillac. But who’s complaining? This 2005 will provide lovely drinking in its youth, yet age well for 15 or more years. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025." Robert Parker
£255
Chateau d'Armailhac 2005 IMPERIAL (1x600cl)
Score: 90 RP Commune: Pauillac
"This powerful, tannic, structured effort from Mouton-Rothschild’s stable is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by an earthy nose dominated by black currants and toasty, smoky oak. Medium to full-bodied with relatively high tannin, decent acidity, and a fine finish, it should be at its best between 2014-2030." Robert Parker
£185
Grand Puy Ducasse 2005 DOUBLE MAGNUM (1x300cl)
Score: 91 RP Commune: Pauillac
"Another “best ever” performance, the Grand-Puy-Ducasse is made in a charming style for a 2005 Pauillac. This deep ruby-hued, very concentrated, precocious, showy effort displays copious quantities of sweet oak intermixed with black cherries, black currants, velvety tannins, medium body, and loads of fruit. It can be drunk now or cellared for 15-20 years." Robert Parker
£67
Chateau Pibran 2005
Score: 86-88 RP Commune: Pauillac
No note given
£155
Chateau Pibran 2005 MAGNUMS
Score: 86-88 RP Commune: Pauillac
No note given
£160
Chateau Lynch Moussas 2005
Score: 88 RP Commune: Pauillac
""While still behind most of the Pauillac classified growths, Lynch Moussas is improving with each vintage as Philippe Casteja continues to upgrade this estate. The deep ruby/purple-tinged 2005 exhibits notes of blackberries, currants, and hints of smoke and toasty oak in the background. Medium-bodied, with good tannic structure, decent acidity, and a heady finish, it should drink well between 2012-2020." Robert Parker
£220
Chateau Latour 2005
Score: 96 RP Commune: Pauillac
"As I wrote last year, this classic effort is built for the ages, and is largely destined to be drunk by our offspring rather than anyone over the age of 50 today. Complex aromas of crushed rocks, graphite, black cherries, creme de cassis, new saddle leather, and dried mushrooms are still tightly wound. The wine is full-bodied and powerful with exceptionally high tannin combined with zesty acidity, and laser-like focus. It will require 15 or more years of cellaring." Robert Parker
£10300
Laville Haut Brion 2005
Score: 94 RP Commune: Pessac-Leognan
"While still behind most of the Pauillac classified growths, Lynch Moussas is improving with each vintage as Philippe Casteja continues to upgrade this estate. The deep ruby/purple-tinged 2005 exhibits notes of blackberries, currants, and hints of smoke and toasty oak in the background. Medium-bodied, with good tannic structure, decent acidity, and a heady finish, it should drink well between 2012-2020." Robert Parker
£1000