The 2005 Syrah Eisele Vineyard displays an attractive meaty character along with smoky blackberry fruit and a hint of charcoal. Soft and lush with French-like elegance as well as complexity, and a delicious, long, supple finish,... Read More
While no one will confuse the 2005 with this estate's prodigious 1990, it is an outstanding effort from one of St.-Emilion's finest terroirs. In terms of potential, the vineyard is exceeded only by Ausone, Pavie and Belair... Read More
This is the finest Canon produced under the Chanel ownership and John Kolasa's administration. A striking minerality interwoven with black currant and flower aromas jump from the glass of this medium to full-bodied, dense,... Read More
This is the finest Canon produced under the Chanel ownership and John Kolasa's administration. A striking minerality interwoven with black currant and flower aromas jump from the glass of this medium to full-bodied, dense,... Read More
Their special cuvée, the 2005 Prima, has a very dense ruby/purple color and a big, sweet kiss of black fruits, earth and spice as well as a cedary nuance to the aromatics. This medium to full-bodied, rich wine is a real star and... Read More
We haven't seen a Clinet this good since the late Jean-Michel Arcaute's stunning duo of 1989 and 1990. This dense ruby/purple-tinged, exotic 2005 boasts soaring aromas of roasted herbs, plums, black currants, and caramelized... Read More
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. Score range: 92-94... Read More
Clos Puy Arnaud is nearly always a seriously made as well as potentially long-lived offering, as evidenced by the 2005. This blend of 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Carmenere boasts... Read More
Possibly the finest Faizeau made to date, this sleeper of the vintage reveals a deep ruby/purple color along with a lovely nose of kirsch, licorice, and pain grille. Full-bodied, ripe, and seamless with excellent harmony among... Read More
The brilliant 2005 Grand-Puy-Lacoste exhibits classic Pauillac aromas and flavors of creme de cassis along with stony/floral notes. Proprietor Xavier Borie has created a wine that should rival the brilliant 1982, 1990, 1996, and... Read More
A mix of Vosne spice and wood spice adds nuance to the dense black cherry aromas that complement the rich, concentrated, sweet and intense full-bodied flavors that are moderately structured, complex and palate staining. This is... Read More
The 2005 Insignia (12,500 cases) is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec. Elegant and restrained (which is very much in keeping with the style of this vintage), the wine is also rich, dense, pure,... Read More
As one might expect from the Moueix family, this is a classic, traditionally styled Bordeaux exhibiting a deep ruby color, medium body, and a sweet perfume of licorice and kirsch that are reminiscent of a Grenache-based wine from... Read More
The 2005 Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey offer apricot, fig jam and touch of almond on the focused bouquet, grilled walnut coming through later. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, quite structured and almost austere in... Read More
Sweet, toasty, oaky notes interwoven with hints of black olives, blackberries, cassis, and spice box are found in this densely saturated ruby/purple-hued 2005. While rich, with impressive concentration and purity, it is also tannic,... Read More
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,... Read More
Although I still prefer the 2003, the 2005 Leoville Poyferre is a gorgeously opulent, approachable wine that is far less massive and austere than its two siblings. The most seductive, approachable, and charming of the three Leovilles,... Read More
The 2005 Pichon Lalande, with its aromatics of cassis, forest floor and earth are followed by a medium-bodied wine that doesn't have quite the length and richness the aromatics suggest. Nevertheless, it is medium-bodied, elegant,... Read More
WA 95 (12/2008): A 500-case blend of 56% Napa fruit and 44% Sonoma fruit, the 2005 Reserve Claret (66% Merlot and 34% Cabernet Sauvignon) is a brilliant wine for the vintage. Its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by aromas of smoked... Read More
This is a significant step up in overall class and elegance with a gorgeously perfumed white flower fruit nose introducing linear, precise, intense and powerful medium full flavors that remain splendidly focused on the stunningly... Read More
As it always is, this is decidedly more elegant and finer than its two Chambolle 1ers brethren with an airy mix of highly spiced and seductive black fruit aromas of impressive depth that continues on the rich, supple, sweet and... Read More
The 2005 Cristal stands out for its exceptional inner perfume and elegance. Soft, delicate and pretty, the 2005 is a relatively immediate Cristal with all of the signatures very much in the right place. The 2005 doesn't have... Read More
Tasted blind at the 10-Year On Tasting in Sauternes. The 2005 Château Suduiraut seemed a little out of sorts at first, although it comes together with honey, barley sugar, orange blossom and mineral scents that become more delineated... Read More
The medium-bodied 2005 Ornellaia shows plenty of delineation in its dark cherries, blueberries, spices, minerals and crushed rocks. The 2005 doesn't have the detail of the 2004 or the richness of the 2006, but it does offer... Read More
The 2005 Sassicaia is another strong effort from Tenuta San Guido. Medium in body, it reveals an understated, delicate expression of smoke, herbs, tobacco and sweet dark fruit. The wine possesses compelling harmony and a gorgeous... Read More