2005 Bordeaux - Margaux

A barrel of Margaux anyone?! In a large appellation such as Margaux, it is easy to overlook certain properties but d’Arsac is one that we couldn’t possibly miss. Not just because of the renowned art collection but also because of the quality of the wine. This is serious stuff at Cru Bourgeois level and can certainly support a decade in bottle.

A long established name in the Cru Bourgeois circles, the wonderful easy style of d’Arsac is always attractive to the drinkers amongst us. Finely balanced, traditional blackcurrant and mint notes intermingled with hints of spice. Very elegant. - armit 17 points

equivalent £115 per case

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. Drink 2016 and after - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 87-88 points

Big and juicy with loads of blackberry and chocolate character. Full-bodied, velvety and long. This is almost New World in style. Serious. Voluptuous. 92-94? - James Suckling, winespectator.com 89-91 points

Dark crimson. Muted nose but opulent. More Merlot than in 04: 57 per cent rather than 50 per cent. Very opulent and worked and gentle on the palate with fine tannins and Margaux silkiness but no strong flavour. Texture rather than flavour impression at the moment. Quite a bit of alcohol on the finish plus velvety tannins. 14 per cent alcohol – so beware! (Second wine of Ch Palmer.) Drink 2012–22 - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 16.5 points

Aromas of currants and spices, with hints of earth. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a medium finish. Very good, but clearly not 2000. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 89-91 points

Price per case In Bond £345 add to basket

A full-bodied, powerful Giscours, the 2005 displays a deep ruby/purple color as well as sweet aromas of red and black fruits intermixed with loamy soil, dried herbs, and a hint of pain grille. Good acidity, a plump, corpulent attack and mouthfeel, medium to full body, superb depth of fruit, plenty of glycerin (it must approach 14% alcohol), and a lusty finish suggest this beauty will be approachable young. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 90-93 points

Very big and juicy, with fabulous berry, chocolate and currant character. Full and round. Long. This could be the best Giscours of all time. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 92-94 points

Very dark – distinctly blackish tinge. Sweet, brutal, almost New World wine on the nose. This is sumptuous – Napa sur Gironde – and very cleverly made. There is freshness and extraordinary immediacy. Utterly seductive. Smooth and transparent. Silky textured. It has enormous ripeness but freshness too. As you can tell from the note, I’m a bit alarmed by the nose but the palate and balance will win many drinkers over. Perhaps the lack of persistence is a bit of a worry though? Drink 2014–26 - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 17 points

The most profound Lascombes produced under the new ownership, the 2005 is a 25,000-case blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. It boasts an inky/blue/purple color in addition to an extraordinary perfume of charcoal, barbecue smoke, grilled meats, and sweet blackberries, cherries, and violets. With tremendous intensity, purity, freshness, definition, palate presence, and a moderately tannic finish (the tannin is sweet and well-integrated), this blockbuster is rich and concentrated yet maintains its Margaux typicity. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2030 - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 94-96 points

Lots of very ripe fruit with blackberries and licorice. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins. Starts off slowly but grows on the palate. Long. Best in a long time here. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 92-94 points

Price per case In Bond £370 - SOLD OUT

High impact, punchy fruit - freshly crushed berries coated in chocolate, mocha and cedar. All the elements in perfect harmony. - armit, 18 points

The 2005 is a prodigious effort from this estate, which, despite some dazzling wines over recent vintages, rarely receives the attention it deserves. This cuvee is off the charts in terms of richness, intensity, power, and overall elegance. A stunning black/purple color is accompanied by scents of graphite, blackberries, cassis, and minerals. Incredibly pure, beautifully textured, and medium to full-bodied with sweet tannin for a 2005, this compelling Margaux will be at its finest between 2010-2030+. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 93-95 points

Dark-colored, with showy aromas of ripe berries, currants and raspberries with hints of violets. Incredible nose. Full-bodied, with ultra-elegant tannins that go on and on. A fabulous wine, with the finesse and class of a great Burgundy and the power and style of Bordeaux. This is the best wine ever from here. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 95-100 points

Exceptionally dense colour right out to rim. Some oak on the nose. Very sweet start on the front palate and, while great attempts have been made to ensure the tannins are as supple as possible, the whole is a bit of a brutal assault on the palate at present. Aggressive acidity. Quite alcoholic. May please eventually but it needs quite a bit of time. Drink 2018–15 - Jancis robinson, jancisrobinson.com 16.5 points

This is another superb vintage from this grand dame estate. Administrator Paul Pontallier has overseen the production of so many great Margaux, it is senseless to say 2005 is better than all its predecessors, but it is an extraordinary effort. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, it is a gorgeously pure, intense, deep purple/ruby-tinged effort offering exquisite, surprisingly nuanced and complex aromatics for such a young Chateau Margaux. The mouthfeel is one of opulence, silk, purity, full-bodied concentration, terrific intensity, unbelievable freshness and vibrancy, and sweet tannin. The tannin levels are the highest ever measured at this estate, but the alcohol is only around 13%, not particularly high by this vintage’s standards. Yields were 43 hectoliters per hectare. This powerful effort is built along the lines of the 1996, but is seemingly even more impressive, layered, and potentially grand. It is a candidate for 50+ years of evolution. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2060+. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 96-100 points

Unbelievable nose already. Incredible complexity of aromas, from wild raspberries to flowers and fresh mushrooms. Violets, currants. Love it. Full-bodied, with ultrarefined tannins. Long, long finish. It lasts for minutes on the palate. A wine with classic beauty. May well be 100 points. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 95-100 points

Very deep, polished purplish crimson right out to the rim. Wonderful lift on top of the amazing depth and richness of the fruit. Great, almost marine, freshness. Opulent is not quite the word because this is not rich and flashy – it’s more quintessential Margaux than that – so lifted and truly airborne. Great, great harmony. Truly LOVELY on the nose and then follows this up on the palate – just gorgeous. You really could swallow this with enormous pleasure already because the tannins are so ripe. Wonderfully neat finish. So fresh and refreshing. No heat on the finish. Paul Pontpallier, referring to the level of phenolics, describes this as ‘the densest Margaux ever – even more than 2003’. Thirteen per cent alcohol. Very very Cabernet and very fine. Just eight per cent Merlot. Plus six per cent Petit Verdot. Very clean and palate cleansing. Really lovely texture. Drink 2018–35 - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 19.5 points

A classic vin de garde as well as a Palmer for the ages, the 2005 will last for 40-50 years. Representing 50% of the production, it is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot. An inky/blue/purple color is accompanied by a beautiful bouquet of flowers, cassis, spice box, forest floor, and subtle wood. Boasting extraordinary intensity, a huge entry on the palate, full body, high tannin, and good underlying acidity, this is a massive as well as exquisitely elegant, pure effort. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2050+. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 94-96 points

Opulent and flamboyant are the two words that come to mind with this wine. Aromas of blackberries, dark chocolate and toasted oak follow through to a full-bodied palate, with big, chewy tannins (yet they are refined and silky) and a long, long finish. This is a full-throttle Palmer. Superripe and delicious. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 95-100 points

Very dark crimson. Lift and perfume. Very supple start, with sweetness and quite obvious Cabernet Sauvignon rigour (53 per cent) plus seven per cent Petit Verdot. A bit severe with sandy tannins on the finish. Just a little hole on the mid palate at the moment. Well crafted but I wouldn’t have minded just a little more acidity. 14 per cent – without chaptalisation of course – a record for Palmer. Beautiful texture and winemaking; I’m just looking for a little more flavour at this point. Drink 2016–30 - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 17+ points

Another excellent vintage for Bordeaux's dry whites, which tend to be vastly underrated and exceptionally long-lived (30-40 years in some cases). The 2005s possess crisp acidity as well as serious weight, richness, and texture. Space constraints did not allow full tasting notes, but this is one of the top 2005 dry white Bordeaux wines. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 92-94 points

Dense and intense with lots of lemon, pear and apple character, with vanilla and cream undertones. Long and beautiful. Lovely acidity and balance. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 92-94 points

Very green fruits rather than creamy/oaky side of Pavillon. Weight is more obvious on the palate. Not especially concentrated. Quite fresh – not as zippy and exciting as 2004 (though the alcohol and acidity are pretty much the same). A bit astringent on the finish. Drink 2012–18 - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 17 points

The best second wine yet made by Chateau Margaux is undoubtedly the 2005 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux, a blend of nearly 50% Merlot and the rest primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Petit Verdot. Extremely rich in color, flesh, fruit, and glycerin, this amazingly opulent, full-bodied effort tips the scales at 14% alcohol ... a full degree higher than its grander sibling. Serious consumers should consider purchasing this gorgeous offering as it is probably better than just about any Chateau Margaux produced between 1963 and 1977. It should drink well for 15 or more years. Drink 2006-2021 - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 90-93 points

Gorgeous aromas of ultraripe grapes with raspberries, minerals and hints of flowers. Full-bodied, with silky and juicy tannins. Long and flavorful. Chunky wine yet focused and structured. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 92-94 points

Deep crimson. Glowing with health. Quite zesty nose, broad and ripe. Very seductive ripeness with lovely polished tannins. Good balance of acidity with velvety tannins and ripe fruit. Firm, sandy tannins on the finish. Some slight heat on the finish – just like Alter Ego de Palmer. Fourteen per cent alcohol. (Merlot reached unheard-of levels 13.7–15.5% - and the blend here is almost half Merlot.) Drink 2015–25 - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 17.5 points

Owned by the Wertheimer brothers of Chanel fame, this is another estate that has produced their finest wine in many years. Administrator John Kolasa is exceptionally happy with what he has achieved in 2005 from yields of 39 hectoliters per hectare. Only 48% of the production made it into the final blend of 54.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Exhibiting a wonderfully precise nose of sweet black currants, loamy soil, incense, and subtle herbs, oak, and spice, a fabulous attack, a medium to full-bodied, layered texture, superb purity, good underlying acidity, and a blockbuster yet elegant finish, it should be at its finest between 2012-2030+. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 92-94 points

Beautiful aromas of blackberries, chocolate, coffee and currants. Full-bodied, with wonderfu ultrafine tannins and structure. Long, long finish. Seriously structured and rich. All in reserve right now, but you can feel the outstanding quality. 2000 in the remake. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 95-100 points

Dark purplish. Slightly soapy nose with a slightly crude, raw edge to it – quite contained on the nose then very opulent, almost right bank, on the palate. Obviously sweet and rich rather than classic Margaux. Lovely texture then fades a little on the finish. Tasted only once unfortunately, blind. Drink 2012–22 - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 16.5 points

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