September 19, 2022 - Bucking the recent trend of positive reviews, I found my final bottle of this wine to be past the point of being drinkable; though being one to eschew waste (almost to a fault at times), I did my best to get through a half-bottle. The wine's fruit had turned dry, pruned, and very unappealing, too much alcohol shined through, balance and elegance fully out the window. This is most typical of many of these CdP wines from the era. This one just happened to be worse than most I've encountered. 2008 was the last CdP I purchased, and this bottle defines the reason. There's just better options to age.
January 20, 2022 - This is drinking beautifully at this time. Nose of red fruit and slight lavender along with garrigue. Slightly bricked body. Licorice, blood and leather notes backed by red currant and fully resolved earthy tannins that result in a nice ten seconds tingly finish. This was one of many 2005 wines I bought to celebrate our wedding anniversary and happy I did.
December 25, 2020 - Delicious. Enjoyed with roast duck and pears in a picada sauce. Was happily surprised by every aspect of this wine. Instead of the typical flora and fruit nose, it showed a combination of spice and anise type herbs. The taste was a remarkable balance of fruit, earth, spice, with just the right amount of acidity from mature tannins. The real shocker was the length and smoothness of the finish. Damn. I really wish I had bought more of this.
February 26, 2020 - In a perfect spot right now
May 27, 2019 - Great CDP, rich, velvety, lots of dark fruit plus graphite.
March 24, 2019 - My experience is very similar to birdiefour. And this too, is my last bottle.
Again... I broke the cork, 6 out of 12 of these guys, the cork broke. Well this one is my last, so that problem should not be rearing its ugly head again. This wine poured a brick red and presented a healthy aromas of cranberry and coffee. This medium bodied wine was dry as the nectar felt like it's coated very corner of my mouth with flavors of Raspberry, Black Pepper Tobacco and a hint of baseball glove... deliciousness.
We paired this with a top sirloin, grilled brussels spouts and a cheese plate after an afternoon of Kayaking... OMG, it was amazing together.
March 3, 2019 - Very nice CdP. Nice fruit, still some tannins. Good acidity too. Wish I had more!
October 20, 2017 - A lot of 2005s are still so tight, but this one opened nicely in the decanter over the course of the evening and seems a bit less harsh than some of the more renowned producers' 2005s I've tasted. Light purple color. Nose: spicy herbs, broth, mushroom, leather, on top of black cherries and juicy plums. Full and bold with drying, solid tannins and medium-low acidity. Black cherries and sweet plums, rich fruit, laced with pepper, beef broth, leather, pipe tobacco. Still lots of time ahead, but it shows nicely with air.
September 18, 2016 - I broke another cork. Then had to strain into a decanter. Slight amorality of Rose and cherry. At first pour there was a citrus pepper flavor that disappeared and returned to the full flavors of oak, dark cherry after 20 mins in the decanter.
February 13, 2016 - -- decanted immediately before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over 2 - 3 hours --
NOSE: slightly-aged red fruit aromas; garrigue; hint of red licorice; moderately to very expressive.
BODY: dark brick-red core with bricking at the edges; medium-light to medium bodied.
TASTE: strong garrigue; open, and in a good spot right now; not bretty; healthy dose of woodsy spice; 14% alc. not noticeable; long finish of medium+ intensity.
50, 5, 12, 16, 7 = 90