en primeur > Bordeaux 2005 Revisited > vintage report > product listing
white rosé red all prices exclude VAT and duty
Chateau Haut Bergey Blanc 2005
Score: 91 RP Commune: Pessac-Leognan
"Produced from 85% Sauvignon and the balance Semillon, the 2005 Haut-Bergey offers subtle aromas of wood smoke and gun flint accompanied by notes of honeysuckle, waxy lemon oil, fig, and melon. This complex, fleshy, fruit-forward, medium-bodied Pessac-Leognan can be enjoyed now and over the next decade." Robert Parker
£245
Chateau La Tour Haut Brion 2005
Score: 89 RP Commune: Pessac-Leognan
"Beginning in 2006, this vineyard became part of La Mission-Haut-Brion’s second wine, so 2005 will be the final vintage of La Tour Haut-Brion. That’s a shame as many superb, under-the-radar wines were produced under this moniker in the forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, and early eighties. The 2005 is a 2,000-case blend of 41% Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot, and 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, a relatively high amount of Cabernet Sauvignon for a Pessac-Leognan property. It offers classic notes of scorched earth, asphalt, smoky black cherries, and roasted herbs. Medium-bodied and tannic, it is an excellent, but not inspirational claret that should be at its finest between 2013-2025." Robert Parker
£420
Chateau Pape Clement Blanc 2005 (6x75cl)
Score: 96 RP Commune: Pessac-Leognan
"An outstanding combination of 55% Sauvignon Blanc and 45% Semillon, this full-bodied, dry white boasts copious quantities of lemon grass, honeysuckle, and apple notes backed up by hints of wood, quince, and nectarines. Concentrated, with admirable acidity, richness, and a more forward style than its neighbors, Laville Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion, this beauty can be enjoyed now and over the next 10-15 years." Robert Parker
£475
Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 2005
Score: 95 RP Commune: Pessac-Leognan
"Domaine de Chevalier’s fabulous 2005 white offers terrific acidity, body, and texture as well as high acidity, which suggests this wine should enjoy an incredibly long life. I recently had the 1985 at a charity dinner, and it is still remarkably youthful. The 2005 may last just as long, if not longer. Hints of figs, licorice, honeysuckle, and lemon oil are accompanied by a concentrated, dry, nearly austere wine, but there is so much going on, that it should be prodigious with another decade of cellaring. It will last for 30-40+ years." Robert Parker
£525
Malartic Lagraviere Blanc 2005
Score: 92 RP Commune: Pessac-Leognan
"Made in a beautiful, elegant, zesty style, the 2005 Malartic Lagraviere offers copious quantities of honeyed grapefruit and other assorted citrus, crushed rock, spring flower, nectarine, and marmalade as well as brilliant acidity, and a bright, refreshing, mineral-dominated personality. It should evolve for 10-15 or more years." Robert Parker
£285
Chateau Le Pin 2005 6x75cl
Score: 93 RP Commune: Pomerol
"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
£12000
Chateau Lafleur 2005 6 x 75cl
Score: 95 RP Commune: Pomerol
"The 2005 Lafleur is tight and austere at present, but unquestionably enormously endowed. It displays a dense ruby/purple hue as well as a beautiful bouquet that only emerges with coaxing. Aeration is essential in order to release the subtle, restrained scents of licorice, kirsch liqueur, black truffles, and flowers. In the mouth, there is compelling richness, depth, and intensity, but the wine’s power, full body, forbiddingly backward style, and high tannins suggest significant cellaring will be required. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050." Robert Parker
£7700
Chateau Grand Mayne 2005
Score: 93 RP Commune: Pomerol
"Classic aromas of blueberries, cedar, vanillin, black currants, and spring flowers jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored St.-Emilion. Broad, rich, jammy fruit flavors compete with the full-bodied, highly-extracted style that exhibits moderate tannin as well as excellent overall harmony and purity. This cuvee tends to be made in a dense, chewy style, and the 2005 may ultimately rival Grand-Mayne’s brilliant 1998. Anticipated maturity: now-2022. A sleeper of the vintage!" Robert Parker
£375
Vieux Chateau Certan 2005
Score: 95 RP Commune: Pomerol
"A stunning effort from Alexander Thienpont, the 2005 Vieux Chateau Certan (a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc) reveals an inky/blue/purple color along with a rich, sumptuous perfume of black olives, lavender, roasted herbs, licorice, pain grille, and oodles of truffles as well as creme de cassis. In the mouth, hints of chocolate and charcoal also make an appearance along with good acidity, fabulous purity, and a full-bodied, powerful mouthfeel. In keeping with the style of this terroir, the wine is reserved and restrained, but deep. It should develop magnificently, and age for 30-40 years. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035." Robert Parker
£1400
Chateau Beauregard 2005
Score: 89-91 RP Commune: Pomerol
"A candidate for the finest wine produced at this chateau, Beauregard’s inky/ruby-colored 2005 offers up sumptuously rich aromas of graphite, smoke, black cherry jam, and cassis. With superb fruit, medium to full body, ripe tannin, and adequate acidity, it can be enjoyed over the next 10-15 years." Robert Parker
£220
Chateau Nenin 2005
Score: 90 RP Commune: Pomerol
"Not surprisingly given the ownership by the Delon family (who also own Las Cases), Nenin always has a Medoc structure super-imposed on the ripe Merlot (75% of the blend, with the balance Cabernet Franc). The strong 2005 exhibits notes of sweet black cherries, licorice, and caramel in its medium to full-bodied, structured personality. It requires 5-7 years of cellaring, and should keep for two decades or more." Robert Parker
£355
Chateau Rieussec 2005
Score: 96 RP Commune: Sauternes
No note given
£395
Chateau Climens 2005
Score: 97 RP Commune: Sauternes
No note given
£750
Chateau Filhot 2006 6 x Magnums
Score: 90 RP Commune: Sauternes
No note given
£175
Chateau Lafaurie Peyraguey 2005
Score: 92 RP Commune: Sauternes
No note given
£300
Chateau Dassault 2005
Score: 90 RP Commune: St Emilion
"An undeniable sleeper of the vintage, this property, owned by a French aircraft manufacturing company, has produced the finest Dassault made to date. The 2005 exhibits a deep ruby/purple color along with beautiful aromas of blueberries, raspberries, cherries, and licorice. Silky-textured, medium to full-bodied, hedonistic, lush, pure, and long, it is one of the few 2005s that can be drunk now, although it should improve for 10-15 years."
£230
Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere 2005
Score: 94 RP Commune: St Emilion
"For opulence, decadence, and sexiness, this 2005 is hard to resist. One of the vintage’s most flamboyant efforts, it is a gorgeous blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. With a stunningly exotic nose of espresso roast, a juicy meat and herb concoction, spice box, chocolate, incense, and copious quantities of sweet, ripe black cherry and blackberry fruit, this full-throttle St.-Emilion exhibits good structure (because of the vintage’s sound acid levels) and high, but velvety tannin. It is a brilliant effort from proprietor Stephan von Neipperg. I would not discount its aging potential as the 1990, which I thought would have a short aging curve, is still going strong at age 18. The 2005 should easily last 20-25 years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030." Robert Parker
£540
Chateau Cheval Blanc 2005
Score: 96 RP Commune: St Emilion
"The dense ruby/purple-hued 2005 Cheval Blanc’s ethereal bouquet of menthol, coffee, wet stones, black cherries, blackberries, and hints of graphite and spice soars from the glass. An equal part blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, it is medium to full-bodied with a gorgeous texture in addition to high tannins that glide over the palate with no angularity or astringency. While it does not quite reach the perfection of the 2000, it should rival the profound 1998 and 1990. This is not a Cheval Blanc for near-term drinking as it demands at least a decade’s worth of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2035." Robert Parker
£8250
Chateau Beausejour Becot 2005
Score: 94 RP Commune: St Emilion
"The bottled 2005 Beau Sejour Becot confirms that this is the finest effort from this estate in the thirty years I have been covering Bordeaux. A classic blend of 70% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, it is an intense, full-bodied St.-Emilion revealing notes of espresso roast, chocolate, blackberries, licorice, and truffles. With sweet but noticeable tannins, good acidity, and a powerful, long finish, this textbook St.-Emilion cuts a swath between the modern school of winemaking and the traditionalists. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+." Robert Parker
£495
Chateau Barde-Haut 2005 MAGNUMS
Score: 93 RP Commune: St Emilion
"A tasty, opulent 2005 from proprietress Helene Garcin, this sexy wine exhibits a dense ruby/purple color followed by a sweet bouquet of licorice, black cherries, blackberries, oak, and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, opulent, fleshy, and disarming, it will drink well in 2-3 years, and should age for 12-15. By the way, I have recently begun sampling my 1998 Barde-Haut, which is just emerging from its adolescent stage. It, too, is a beauty!" Robert Parker
£300