2005 Bordeaux - St Julien

A real winner this year, Beychevelle oozes style and expression. Plump, ripe berry fruit, mint and liqourice. Balanced, polished and well-integrated tannins. One of the best we have tasted. - armit 16.5 points

IB Price £330 SOLD OUT

The most profound Beychevelle since the 1982, the elegant yet powerful 2005 exhibits an opaque purple color as well as a sweet nose of plums, black currants, flowers, and minerals. Medium to full body, refreshing acidity, good definition, and strong flavors characterize this top-flight effort. It should easily last for 25-30 years. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 91-93 points

Aromas of blackberries, licorice and spice follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a medium finish. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 89-91 points

Mid crimson. Sappy, savoury, lively if very slightly simple nose. Very winning for the medium if not the long term. No enormous ambition but some fine tannins. Certainly respectable. - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 17 points

Smooth, silky berry fruit with hints of liqueur and eucalyptus. Impressive mouthfeel and a seamless structure. Highly recommended if the price remains competitive. - armit 17 points

IB Price £350 SOLD OUT

Branaire, which has been ratcheting up the quality level over the last 5-6 years, made such a great 2003, I am hesitant to suggest the 2005 is as good, or even better. It will undoubtedly come down to consumer’s personal preference, with the 2003 more exotic and flamboyant, and the 2005 more structured or “classic.” In any event, the 2005 is one of the top Branaires ever made. Its inky/ruby/purple color is followed by sweet aromas of spring flowers interwoven with black cherries, cranberries, cassis, plums, and hints of forest floor, wet rocks, and new oak. With wonderful purity, full body, terrific fruit intensity, a beautiful, expansive texture, and a stunning 45-50-second finish, it should be at its peak between 2011-2030. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 94-96 points

Very pretty flowers, berry and cherry on the nose, with just a hint of currant. Full-bodied, with big velvety tannins and a medium finish. Lots of fruit and focused character. We will see if it equals the 2003. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 92-94 points

Relatively pale crimson. Frank, direct, simple Cabernet aromas. Nice limpid texture. Good dry oak. Very relaxed and at ease. Lovely silkiness on the front and marked dryness on the finish. Absolutely not forced. Neat finish. 17 points
Very lively with fine tannins underneath. Still extremely, youthfully vibrant but sweet, round and easy on the finish. This could turn out to be a good buy. (London, 26 apr 05) - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 17+ points

Punchy, direct and all there. Bursting with ripe black fruit, cedar earth and minerals. Wonderful precision and energy. This delivers over and above the level of second wine. - armit 17+ points

IB Price £280 BUY

As usual, this estate’s second wine, the 2005 Clos du Marquis, is top-flight. Possessing more alcohol than the grand vin (13.45%), it offers gorgeous purity, plenty of red and black fruits, and a style similar to its more famous sibling. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 89-91 points

This is very solid, with currants, minerals and berries on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Lots of licorice and cassis. Tight. Always excellent in top vintages. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 92-94 points

Very bright crimson. Energetic bright fruit with lovely suppleness and almost electric impact. Sweet start and lots of chew but still great vibrancy. Very nice wine on its own account – no suggestion of sweeping up the leftovers (this is the second wine of Léoville Las Cases). Silky and winning yet very compact and dense. Lots of tannin but not a heavyweight. Drink 2016–26 - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 17 points

Full-throttle power but with fine elegance and femininity. Exuberant notes of spice, gingerbread and crème de cassis. A sure fine winner, with a whopping big finish. Superb. - armit 18.5+ points

IB Price £995 - SOLD OUT

Bruno Borie has done a fabulous job at Ducru Beaucaillou. The 2003 may be the greatest Ducru produced in the last 3-4 decades, and the 2005 is not far behind. A more backward style of wine with higher tannin, more elevated acids, and extremely high alcohol (13.6%) for this estate, its inky/purple color is followed by notes of sweet cassis and plums intermixed with licorice, crushed rocks, and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied and structured with a whoppingly long finish, it needs 8-10 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2030+. It is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot. Drink 2013-2030 - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 92-94 points

Intense exotic aromas of crushed blackberries, lilacs and hints of vanilla. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and big, silky tannins. This is extremely layered, with a polished caressing texture. Long, long finish. Builds on the palate. Will it be better than 2003? Time will tell. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 95-100 points

More Merlot this year (33 per cent) than usual. Dark, brooding purple crimson. Spicy, almost brûlée nose. Lots of acidity – very pronounced. Very dry tannins on the finish too, so a wine for the very long term. Dry, rather Las Cases-like! Should not be touched for ages. Much more brutal than the Latour tasted immediately before it, even though convention would dictate that the Pauillac would be more long term than the St-Julien. Very intense. There are many wines this dry on the finish but not many with the intensity of fruit to support the tannins. Drink 2018–30 - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 18 points

Lovely gentle textures, refreshing raspberry bramble notes mixed with hints of spice. Charming. armit 16 points

IB Price £195 BUY

As usual, the dark ruby/purple-colored 2005 Gloria is a model of the fruit-driven, minimally-oaked style of Bordeaux winemaking. It reveals a broader structure and more density and delineation than usual along with tremendous ripeness, sweet fruit, and moderate tannin. This hedonistic St.-Julien will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age, and last for 12-15. Drink 2008-2021 - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 88-90 points

This shows a lovely silky texture and ripe fruit ranging from plums to chocolate to toasted oak. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, rich finish. Juicy young red. Very close to 92-94. - James Suckling, The Wine Spectator 89-91points

Very dark crimson. Gassy and youthful on the nose. Sweet and slightly floral. Exuberant, not especially subtle, but a big galumphing mouthful of ripe fruit. Drink 2014-22 - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 16.5 points

Great energy and synergy with terrific depth of mulberry, blackberry and toast. Excellent concentration, balance and drive on the finish. - armit 17.5+ points

IB Price £365 BUY

Very pretty aromas of flowers, berries, currants and light raisins. Full-bodied, with soft and round tannins and lovely ripeness. Attractive and balanced. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 89-91 points

Purplish crimson. Quite inky and oaky on the nose for a St-Julien. Fruit juice attack. Perfectly fine but lacks a bit of subtlety. Heavy oaking on the finish. Solid and competent rather than a high flyer. Rather dead finish. 16 points
Not much nose but very deep purple. Smooth start then quite marked acidity and lots of quite inky tannin. Very concentrated and still introvert. This may well turn out to be a dark horse. (I was particularly impressed by the 2004 Gruaud incidentally.) (London, 26 apr 05) - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 16.5 points

Intense fleshy fruit, lovely raspberry coulis, creamy blueberry fruit and hints of liqourice. Excellent balance and harmony. Very fine. A great Langoa. - armit 17.5 points

IB Price £425 - SOLD OUT

A behemoth possessing huge tannin, density, and extract as well as mouth-searing levels of firepower, this inky/purple-tinged St.-Julien is a classic vin de garde offering notes of high class tobacco smoke, cedar, black currants, incense, and subtle wood. Potential purchasers over the age of 50 may want to reconsider, as this wine will require a decade of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 90-92 points

Gorgeous blackberry, currants and light toasted oak. Exotic. Full-bodied, juicy and velvety, with loads of fruit. Long and delicious. Almost 95-100. Great value. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 92-94 points

Very dark purple. Exceptionally ripe and opulent on the nose – most unusual for St-Julien and at first I thought this wine might be over the top but in fact there is sufficient rigour on the palate – mild constitution, definitely St-Julien. Well done! Not at all hot on the finish – moderate, beautifully judged. If you were in the dock, you’d want this one to be on the bench [on trial/be the judge]. Very neat and mild, and dry, on the finish. Fine tannins. Drink 2015-28 - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 18 points

Superb scent, serious concentration. Beautifully soft, sweet ripe fruit enveloped in a reassuring structure. Extremely long finish, it has everything. A truly great wine. - John Armit 19 points

IB Price £575 SOLD OUT

A monumental beast possessing dramatic levels of concentration, tannin, and potential, Leoville-Barton’s opaque purple-hued 2005 reveals amazingly sweet notes of black currants, damp forest floor, and spice box. It is a deep, powerful, unctuously-textured effort with enough acidity to provide freshness as well as definition. Broader and more masculine than the 2000, and more classic than the 2003, the 2005 is a monster meant for long-term aging. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2055. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 94-96 points

Fantastic aromas of currants, black licorice and berries. Fresh flowers. Light smoke. Big and velvety with loads of fruit. Long. Gorgeous. Sexy. Love it. Seems like another 2003; wait and see. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 95-100 points

Lively crimson – looks very youthful. Light, mineral notes on the nose. Fine tannins at first, becoming dominant on the mid palate. Very tight and fine-tuned. Reined in. Far from opulent with lots of dryness on the finish. Dry, grainy tannins. Extremely solid and earthbound. Set for the very long term. Langoa is more expressive for the moment but may not last as long. Drink 2018–30 - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 17+ points

An explosion on the senses. Very vigourous and vibrant fruit - raspberry coulis, kirsch, subtle spice. Real power and drive, with a fantastic finish and excellent balancing acidity. Everything that is needed for a great wine. - armit 19 points

IB Price £1,650 BUY

For Jean-Hubert Delon, Leoville Las-Cases’ 2005 is reminiscent of the 1996 and 1986. Only 37% of the production made it into the final blend of 87.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7.6% Merlot, and 4.8% Cabernet Franc. The 13.1% alcohol content is actually lower than the 2002''''''''s, because of the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. The vibrant, fresh 2005 reveals high tannin along with a beautiful deep ruby/purple color, and classic notes of cassis and cherries intermixed with minerals and a judicious touch of toasty oak. This concentrated, classically built, structured claret is meant for the long haul, but it will not provide much pleasure over the next decade. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 92-94 points

Sensational aromas of currants, berries, minerals and flowers. Full-bodied, with big, chewy tannins. Starts off slowly, then builds on the palate and goes on and on. Could be even better than 2000, and I gave that 100. This wine makes my head spin. Amazing. Layered and long. This is so 100-points. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 95-100 points

Very very deep crimson. Very very stereotype ‘masculine’ and savoury to Clos du Marquis’ more feminine and silky charms on the nose and then wonderful energy and bright fruit yet lovely texture – much less tough than usual. Vibrant and full throttle without being jagged and uncompromising. Fine and dense and really, really St-Julien. Extremely opulent without being at all sweet. The clay gives the intensity but the soils are very complex. As at Latour, the tannins are very silky and round yet the fruit is amazingly intense. There’s a real stylistic relationship between Latour and Las Cases this year. Drink 2017–35 - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 18.5 points

Wonderfully vibrant ripe brambly fruit, hints of liqourice and tar. Textured, balanced and well-defined. Another notable success for Leoville Poyferre. - armit 17+ points

IB Price £550 - SOLD OUT

As superb as Leoville Poyferre’s 2005 is, it does not appear to be as profound as their 2003, but I may be proven wrong once the wine is bottled. Flowery creme de cassis aromas interwoven with hints of blackberries, licorice, and pain grille jump from the glass of this opaque purple-colored St.-Julien. Possessing medium to full body, sweet tannin, an expansive, multilayered mid-palate, good acidity and freshness, and a blockbuster finish, this powerful, impressively endowed effort will require patience. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2030+. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 92-94 points

Loads of blackberry, licorice and toasted oak on the nose. Full-bodied, with lots of focused and clean ripe fruit character. Balanced and refined. Another 2003? Maybe even better? - James Suckling, winespectator.com 95-100 points

Quite gassy and very sweet and juicy. A bit too much extraction for comfort, which is a shame since the fruit quality and purity is lovely. Very dry finish. Drink 2016–24 - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 16 points

Lovely medium weight, finely grained tannins. Pure minty black currant fruits. Perfectly harmonious. A touch of class, one of the best Talbots for some time. - armit 17.5 points

IB Price £310 - SOLD OUT

A deep ruby/blue/purple hue and an earthy, spicy, sweet currant, and leather-scented bouquet are present in this pretty effort. Although somewhat light in the context of the vintage, it possesses good freshness and the potential to be excellent, possibly outstanding if it fleshes out. It will be one 2005 to enjoy early in life. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 88-90 points

Very rich and ripe on the nose, with currants, light raisins and violets. Full-bodied, with big, juicy tannins and a long finish. Almost 95-100. The best Talbot in years. - James Suckling, winespectator.com 92-94 points

Mid crimson. Slightly dull maroon hints. Straightforward fully ripe Médoc Cabernet on the nose. Very well balanced, sappy, fresh, really succulent fruit. Dry framework – no more than medium weight and beautifully judged. Very successful wine. Not exceptionally intense but a lovely medium term drink. Drink 2014–24 - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com 17.5 points

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