This remains a completely classic bottle of Margaux with a deep crimson purple colour and beautiful aromatics of blackcurrant, blackberries, violets, cedar and dark chocolate. The palate is rich and intense with layers of dark fruit flavours, tobacco, chocolate, violets and liquorice leading into a fine line of balancing tannins providing lovely persistence. Wonderful !
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Really starting to come in to its own, good structure and fruit, but hints of secondary notes start to show after a couple hours in the decanter. This can certainly age longer, but a lovely "teenage" Bordeaux here right now.
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Dark red, verging on black. Rich, dark, dense nose, cocoa powder and cedar. Smooth, large-scaled palate, but still medium bodied. Flavours are trying hard to stay within an appropriate range, but there are certainly wisps of dark chocolate and charry oak. A bit large-scaled for my palate, but others may appreciate its heft. There is certainly nothing out of place, it is balanced and tasty, but the dark aspect is just a bit outside my wheelhouse. More time in the cellar may well dumb it down and bring some elegance to the fore.
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Cork disintegrated, but decanted with filter for 2 hours. Absolutely gorgeous wine, and probably one of the best I have tasted in years. Still retains slight fruit and ever so slight sweetness. The definition of a beautiful floral margaux. In other words - it's sex in a bottle.
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Last drunk in 2019 and what a difference time has made. Still fruit forward but the tannins have integrated and so you now have a lovely fruit forward wine. Years ahead but now drinking finally and really quite nice. D’issan over delivers for the price point and this is no exception. Enjoy now but probably better in a few years time
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I wanted to feature this wine at a tasting of 14, but it did not go to plan. I had two bottles pulled and the first was corked. The second had some plums and graphite, but was rough. The third was also corked. All three corks fell apart and were crumbly. Very unfortunate and not a good showing compared to the group. Still, the sound bottle was excellent, but the competition was tough. 91.
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Delicious bottle! Dark cherry, wonderful dark fruit aromas, splendid finish that tantilizes the pallet. Aging is perfect and I would drink my remaining 5 anytime onward. 2005 is on of my all time favorite vintages, and this one is absolutely one of them!
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Splash decanted. Dark brick red/ruby core, with a hint of rusty rim fade. Dried fig, black cherry, truffles, and sea salt sprinkled dark chocolate. Dry, super smooth palate, with long lingering, velvety acidity. Soft tannins on the long finish.
Lots of elegance to this nearly 20 year old Margaux. Enjoyed this at a wonderful wine bar in NYC (La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels) before seeing Wicked on Broadway. This drank great, with little aeration.
On return from London this wine delivers with a classical, graceful expression of Margaux. In the glass it shows a deep crimson purple colour with a beautiful aromatics of blackcurrant, blackberries, violets, cedar and dark chocolate. The palate is rich and intense with layers of dark fruit flavours, tobacco, chocolate, violets and liquorice leading into a fine line of balancing tannins providing lovely persistence. Delicious as always.
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Thirteen years since my last bottle. This is marvellous. Beautiful floral nose. Rich red fruit, leather, spice, with excellent balance. Paired with 140 day Italian beef. Wonderful. $45 en primeur.
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Dark ruby to garnet Med heavy body Initial nose of red fruit hints of green pepper but after 30 min I was hit with the aroma of gardena and this pesisted and was very fun to smell Palate well integrated tannin that can only be described as a velvety mouth feel, dark cherry and plum with a hint of eucalyptus rounds out mid palate and finish. This is a complex and well integrated wine. The fruit is lovely and well balanced but it is not a “fruit bomb” I saved 2 oz on shoulders in fridge for 48 hrs. Although fruit is somewhat diminished it is still lovely. It ready to drink but don’t feel pressured. Kept in a temp and humidity controlled cellar this will keep for many more years
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This was ready to go after 30-45mins. Incredible nose of exotic spice, vanilla, rosewood, a little barnyard and blackberries. On the palate, dark fruits, spice. Some tannin with medium acidity. This was really a joy to drink. I recorked and left half the bottle to drink with dinner about 5 hours later. It had completely changed by then. Almost entirely barnyard. Almost all the fruit and spice had gone. I guess it was close to the end of its life. That first hour of drinking was incredible though.
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Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2005 d’Issan is showing off both the attributes of the vintage and Margaux. Its color is deep and aside from some slight rim variation, it hardly shows its age. Handsomely perfumed, the nose is redolent of black currants, black plums, dark brambles, tobacco, leather, gravelly earth and subtle warm spices. Maybe a kiss of Brett? On the palate, the wine is dry with medium(+?) tannins and medium(+?) acid. Both come across so smooth but they are certainly there. The notes from the nose are confirmed. The finish is long and satisfying. Bold and yet refined. Suave. Textbook. Drinking very well right now and certainly doesn’t need more time however, it’s hard to imagine a day in the next 20+ years that this wine won’t perform.
If I put this in a blind red tasting, I’m pretty sure that many would not call Bordeaux. Rarely do I call perfectly ripe fruit. This 05 fruit is perfectly ripe. I would say this 05 is at its peak it is so good but it truly isn’t. This D’Issan has 12-15 years left of good drinking with a 5 year slide after. 2005 Bordeaux’s are drinking exceptionally as it was perceived when they were birthed. Three hour decant.
The wine glides effortlessly & beautifully over the palate. It is delicious. Ripe, floral, not quite candied fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherry kirsch, black plum, strawberries & blue fruits. Mid berry cola/licorice, black tea, softened lead pencil, dry crushed rocks, dry river stone, limestone, mostly fresh tobacco, firecracker, flinty spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, just moist, dark turned earth, drying clay, volcanic stones & ash, loaminess, dry to slightly fresh mixed herbs, sandstone, sandalwood, some black pepper, red, purple, dark, blue florals framed in violets, Hawaii waterfall acidity with a well polished, balanced, nicely tensioned & structured finish that lasts minutes. Wire to wire outstanding.
It is interesting reading the multiple RP reviews after my notes…from 90-92 young by Neil Martin to his 94 later & then Parker himself in 2015 a 96. Not surprising that time in bottle is constant evolution and worth the wait in proper storage.
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From a magnum. The color has shifted from the darker color of the more recent vintages to a ruby color. Many more aged characteristics than the 2010 - I was surprised it was from a magnum and would have guessed it was a 2000 based on the appearance and taste. No evidence of decline and is drinking wonderfully now.
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Dark fruits with violets, cedar and eastern spices on the nose. The palate was rich and lightly textured with silky tannins. Great acidity carried the rich dark and layered fruits through a long riding and descending profile. Excellent!
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Drinking really well right now. Can’t see it improving with further age. Great structure and fruit. Just a wonderful glass of Bordeaux Opened for seven hours and then decanted right before drinking.
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Decantado dos horas. Color rojo Burdeos intenso y de capa muy alta. Aroma muy intenso, bonita mezcla de fruta negra, madera, pimienta y mina de lapiz, con evolución a humo y ceniza. Boca con entrada intensa, acidez alta, sensación maderosa, un poco rasposa, alta expresividad frutal y madera y final muy largo
Carece del pulido y refinamiento propios de la denominación, parece un vino en estado bruto, no creo que más tiempo lo solucione
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Pas goûté depuis 2014. J'avoue que je testais pour savoir si j'en envoyais chez Iegor pour faire de la place!
Nez de prunes, cassis, mais surtout très mine de crayon. Après à peine 30 minutes, il est bien expressif, signe d’un vin à maturité. La structure est arrondie, c’est bien goûteux, profond, avec la finesse classique de l’appellation. La finale est précise et raffinée, saline à souhaits. Le vin a encore un aspect jeune, énergique, mais il est prêt et son équilibre est admirable. Quel beau Bordeaux!
Et bien elles resteront toutes bien confortablement au cellier! 93 pts
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I don’t subscribe to any publications but it’s safe to say the drinking window on this app is incorrect (2025-2075?). If you like old wine drink now, if you like wine in it’s prime (or young and fresh), like me, you might too late. The cork was a bit dry eventhough it’s been horizontal all this time (and I bought this before it ever went to the floor when I was a retail wine buyer), so maybe it was compromised prior to purchasing. At any rate, it’s barely alive and I just poured a 2000 down the sink last night. Apparently D’Issan is an early drinker. This bottle is decidedly dull.
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Still, as expected, drinking really well. Marginally better than last year, overall characteristics unchanged. A little fuller/smoother and it will be interesting to see how this evolves over the next few years.
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Nez expressif. Cuir, fumée, fruits noirs. En bouche moyennement corsé, ample. Bien équilibré et tout en rondeur. Belle longueur sur de beaux tanins. Attendre encore 4-5 ans pour la prochaine bouteille.
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still very tight, but balanced with both fruit & cigar box on the nose. On palate fruit subdued with plenty of chewy tannins. Look forward to trying again in 3-4 years.
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No formal note. Drank up at the lake. Great choice with grilled fillet mignon. There is a big core of black currants and a minerally tail. Clean. Plus finish. 93
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Floral in nature, finesse in style, medium-bodied, fresh, soft, silky, and vibrant, the sweet red berries along with notes of earth and tobacco are starting to show quite well. The refined finish, with its touch of crushed rocks, red fruits, and forest leaf has only a bit of tannin to resolve. Drink from 2022-2040.
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This remains a classical 2005 Margaux with both floral elegance and a strictness to the palate that suggests plenty in the tank for the future. It shows a deep crimson purple colour with a beautiful aromatics of blackcurrant, blackberries, violets, cedar and dark chocolate. The palate is rich and intense with layers of dark fruit flavours, tobacco, chocolate violets and liquorice leading into a fine line of balancing tannins providing lovely persistence and linearity. There is a lot a lovely wine here.
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Two bottles from the same case showing identically, with a tight-ish nose, serious style (slightly dour), and deeply-pitched back fruit. This is a pretty big wine but it doesn’t come across as very Margaux-like and it seems quite forced.
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Cork was extremely firm and snapped coming out of the bottle; virtually no seepage moving up an otherwise pristine cork. 3 1/2 hours after decanting the nose shows earth, faint pipe tobacco (cherry), cigar box and beef. Tannins overpower the fruit but don’t leave the palate overly dry during the long finish.
Out last of 3 bottles, this should still be fine for 5+ years; lack enough experience with this property to to properly gauge. Fine on its own but really sang with our T-bones cooked over hickory and duck-fat baby potatoes
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My last of these '05 d'Issan. Always a standout for me - one of my top ten favorite wines of all time, for sure. Showing brilliantly at this stage, perhaps a hint of it fading from now, as it's power was somewhat reserved to begin with. This has beautiful sweet black fruit, along with a mesmerizing earthiness and hint of dryness - so classy but also hedonistic. A real pleasure to drink. One I tend to keep an eye out for. I paid $120 for this batch, and it delivers.
First one of the case. Surprisingly good, far better than I expected. Well balanced and with secondary characteristics of leather and and mushroom. At least a decade ahead.
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Deep garnet. Black currants, raisins, black pepper nose. Black cherries, figs, prunes, meaty palate. Interesting to revisit 3+ years after previous tasting. It hasn’t improved, but still very good wine which continues to drink well. Should continue to do so for 5-10 years.
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Leftover sample from the day before. Drank in Gabriel Standart. Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose medium+ intensity, with aromas of garden flowers, soil earth, dark red plums, blackberries, dark cherries, redcurrant, tobaco, woody spice. Developing. On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium+ alcohol, high resolving tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of dark red plums, blackberries, dark red cherries, redcurrant, chocolate, tobacco, wood spice. Long finish. Very good quality. Complex. Acidity sensation not great, but could just a phase. Have to see how it ages further.
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Similar to previous notes. This is such a great example of what a great vintage can do to a seemingly mid-tier Bordeaux. One of the very best '05s I've had, and it eclipses many of the more heralded, lofty Chateaux. One to seek out if one hasn't tried it.
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PnP. ABV 13.5%. Dark garnet in color, no sign of aging on the edge. Expressive nose from get-go. Notes of oyster shells, flowers, tobacco, and wood spices. Tannins have soften a bit vs previous bottle many years ago but still plenty hanging around. Finished long, spicy, and warm. A touch bitter at backend. Not yet reached maturity but approachable. Should continue to evolve and improve.
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This wine remains very consistent although this bottle needed a full double decant to wake it up from its slumber then revealing a classical Margaux deep crimson purple colour with a beautiful aromatics of blackcurrant, blackberries, violets, cedar and dark chocolate. The palate is rich and intense with layers of dark fruit flavours, tobacco, chocolate violets, liquorice leading into a fine line of balancing tannins providing lovely persistence.
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Very nice Margaux. Drinking right now. Quite delicate and needs decanting for min. 3 hours. Enjoyable, but for the price ($120) I feel I would get more enjoyment out of an aged Rioja.
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It's been a few years since I had one of these, and it did not disappoint. Surely the very best vintage of d'Issan to date, this has everything - so much power, but also finesse, and the tannins are so well integrated at this stage of development. it may be at its peak now really, as I could see it losing some power from here on out. This has a sweet core of black fruit, a chocolate, coffee and tobacco profile, some smoke but nothing overwhelming, such a beautiful wine showing well at maturity. Price is high now and I got it at a good price of about $120 all told, but a great price for what it is.
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Beautiful classic nose. On the palate, I was struck by the power and intensity which I guess is the 2005 vintage. Tannins integrated well. Very smooth. Still lots of primary fruit, cassis, tar. Nice long finish. This is clearly a great wine but to my mind it’s best years are ahead of it.
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Three years from our last bottle and at long last, this wine appears to be showing its true potential. Classic cedar, cassis notes on the nose and the palate where there was also hints of medicinal liquorice with excellent length and depth. Superb with Spanish milk lamb.
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Delicious and finally more ready than my previous bottles. Margaux nose with quite a bit vanilla from cask and ripe blackberry cassis fruit. Taste velvet, sweet, tobacco, oriental spices and tanins not to tight. No hurrying with the last 7/12.
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Very similar observations to last time. Very powerful nose of cherry, clove, violets, burnt wood - in spite of the reduction. Taste is full of strawberry and cassis, smoked spices, truffle, roast beef? Did not get the pronounced anise that I did last time (3years ago). Tannins are still fierce. Should come together and be better in another 5-10 years. Lots of potential - more forceful and ripe, with maybe a little less finesse, than other recent Issan. Score : 91+. Relative to expectations: +
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Like other ‘05s I have drank recently, this felt young and a bit tight but still a high-class, nicely balanced wine. A bit dark and brooding for a Margaux - look forward to revisiting in five years time.
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Black currants, graphite and cedar. Super silky and polished. This tightened up at three hours. This wine feels like it’s just entering its drinking window. 94
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This was an exceptional D'issan, better than the '00 and any other vintages I've had. Still young, full of power, but starting to show its stuffing and will only get better with time. 94/95
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Third Zoom tasting – Blind Bordeaux (Mi Casa): Youthful yet harmonious nose displaying perfectly ripe red fruit, cherry, plum, light caramel, lead pencil, cedar and earth. Perfectly integrated palate, very finely layered sweet red fruit, silky, polished and harmonious, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long sweet red fruit driven finish. This is drinking beautifully. Like the 04 LB, not terribly complex but harmonious and delicious.
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Just entering the early stages of its drinking window. The power of the Cab is well complemented by the elegance of the 40% merlot to create a great Margaux that will long outlive most of us. This is one of those great Margaux wines checking all the boxes that you can enjoy tonight, or wait 30 years and beyond. Saw one review with a drinking window of 2075 and I can see that.....but no need to wait.
Outstanding and quintessential Margaux elegance! 1 hour decant was enough. Aroma has some Brett (if which I don’t mind in small amount); crushed stones (d’Issan terroir), black cherry and sandalwood. With more time; the Brett goes away and reveals more layered red fruits and crushed stones. Palate is silky and lots of dark cherry fruits; with feathery tannins and long finish of damp earth. I think it’s arriving at Apogee and should be opened now; with holding steady for a few more years. You’ll be happy with this claret as is.
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From a vertical tasting/wine dinner of 2000, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2015. 2005 was opened a few hours before the tasting. Dark and concentrated with tobacco, sweet fruit, and graphite on the nose. Blue fruits dominating the palate with mineral notes and complex spice notes. Tannins still in balance; this one will last for another decade or more. Served with the 2000 with duck breast and cassis sauce. Just about everyone's favorite from the tasting.
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Awesome mature wine, just takes time to open. Light tobacco on the nose; tastes of black fruit: blueberry, cassis, ripe/overripe blackberry, with a hint of nuts and even salty water at the end. Long finish. Integrated silky tannins. It’s a pleasure to drink.
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A double decant opened this up a lot. This is packed with fruit and has a multitude of years ahead of it. No need to hurry but in great shape. It will be constantly tempting to try it again - although probably not wise.
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WOTN compared with 3 other solid wines from Bordeaux and California. Still youthful, vibrant, strong secondary notes and emerging tiertiary. 3 hour decant, could have been longer, had this wine singing with an excellently prepared beef Wellington. 92
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SLDS January 2019: Blackcurrant, redcurrant and tobacco on the nose. Rich fruit with concentration and good depth. A cooler streak runs through the middle and gives the wines profile a lift. Builds well in the glass.
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Holidays 2018 (Dogwood Grove): On this night, not my thing –tight and not particularly flavorful. Dried herb, tea, and cedar notes dominate. Nevertheless, it was long and showed elements of class. Seemed to be the least successful wine with my guests based on how much wine was left at the end of the meal.
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Decanted 2hrs. Intense deep red in colour. Inky nose, very blackcurranty, light graphite, light violets. Palate is rich & big; firm but fine tannins, good acidity. Again, blackcurrants on palate with some salinity and light peppers but does have limited persistence at present. Very drinkable now but it’s a big deep inky wine & it feels like there is more to go for. Drink now-2030.
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Enjoyed with PBH at Keens, classic NY chophouse, to accompany luscious porterhouse steak. This wine was perfect for the occasion -- suave, sophisticated, succulent, mature, and memorable. A masterwork from Margaux.
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My last one, alas. This hits it out of the park. The fruit is so opulent and beautiful, this feels surprisingly like a classy Napa cab in many ways, but then there is that slight minerality and earthiness on the finish that says Bordeaux. This is impossible not to love, the best vintage of d’Issan surely, though I’ve high hopes for the recent ‘15 and ‘16.
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This is a beautiful wine with the classical Margaux features pushing our scores up as this is our favourite style of Bordeaux. The colour is deep crimson purple with a soaring nose of blackcurrant, blackberries, violets, cedar and dark chocolate. The palate is rich and intense with layers of dark fruit flavours, tobacco, chocolate violets, liquorice leading into a fine line of persistent tannins of great subtlety. This is a wine that will give great pleasure over many years and which shows again the quality of 2005 as a vintage.
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Floral, sweet, Margaux? I’ll confess my least favourite left bank commune. Anyway a lovely wine which has just about entered its drinking window but will be better in time. Lots of fruit but needs to tighten and clean up a bit which I’m confident it will do in time. 91 now but will be a 94 in time. 23 more bottles to go
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Fantastic nose with Lovely perfumed Cabernet fruit, but also fresh herbs and leather. On the palate rather rich but not dense. Great fruit, with matchning acidity and tannin. Lasts forever on the palate, awesome stuff!
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served with Cassoulet; really develops with a couple hours of air. Amazing nose; on the palate, graceful, feminine and powerful with a finish that goes on and on. Lovely lovely wine. Certainly plenty of life left but drinking so well now.
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This is drinking so well right now. On PnP it was very good, but a little tight. Let the bottle breathe for about 45-60 minutes (I should have decanted for the sediment). When dinner was ready, this was singing. Notes of dark berries, charcoal / charred oak, flowers, and earth. Wonderful mouthfeel. I'm sad I only have one.
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still some room to develop, but agree with the previous notes - bright, "come hither" very modern style and not at all aggressive on the attack. Awaiting the rest of the case...
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Opened up after decanting for a couple of hours. Enjoyable, full, deep colour, will no doubt improve over the next few years. Look forward to trying it again in a year or two.
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Wow! Every single bottle of this I have had over the last few years has just been stunning. This wine is modern in it’s approach (read bold) but also maintains more than enough nuance to keep this from being too ‘international’ in style. Instant recognition of Margaux traits on the nose with violets, dark berries, and tobacco leaf. Wonderful plush mouthfeel (almost like each grape was individually polished) with sweet tannin and a solid core to this wine that suggests it has even more to give down the line. Black raspberries, Madagascar vanilla, black currant, tobacco, espresso, and sandalwood all unfurl on the palate. This really is a wonderful wine full of finesse, and while it’s gone up in price, I still find it fair / slightly cheap to the quality of what’s in the glass...
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This was a big hit last night. Lots of character on the nose, including some pickle juice, and almost a smoky-meaty character along with its floral, graphite, and cedar notes. More typically Bordeaux in the mouth, and a long finish. Decanted an hour or so and was drinking beautifully young, so I wouldn't be afraid to drink now or hold for another 5 years.
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Direkt vor dem Probieren geöffnet. - Farbe: Tiefrot. Intensiv. Noch kein Braun. - Toller Wein. Für mich der Gewinner des Abends. Frucht, integrierte Tannin-Struktur und viel mehr Länge als Comtesse und auch Fleur Cardinale.
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I am beginning to think I have acquired something of a dull batch of this wine (bought from Tesco Fine wines about five years ago) because I am simply not seeing or tasting the joyous wine that others have lavished praise upon. my latest bottle had distinctive graphite, cedar and lead pencil notes (usually features I would associate with Graves or Pessac-Leognan) but lacked fruit so became more of a meaty wine than I expect from Margaux. my marking reflects a good wine but I had hoped for a lot more.
Decanted for 3 hours, this was really wonderful. It was very Margaux in character, with that dark berry perfume you get from the best examples of the appelation, and great length. This will be a great wine for another 10-15 years, I believe. Marvelous.
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My 2nd last of these beauties. I'm very familiar with this producer and have had a lot of vintages including '06, '00, '86, '12 and '10 at least. This is surely the best vintage from the ones I've tried. It oozes class with delicate fruit, some earthiness and acidity. Everything is in the right place and it's singing like a bird just now. This one was slightly more earthy than I remember, though still beautiful and composed. I think this is in drink-now phase. Not sure I'd see any advantage to waiting longer. This has become really pricey now at typically over $100. It may be worth it, though consider the '06 or '12 too. The '06 is similar to the '05 but just a little less of everything - it used to be outclassed by the '05 but has gotten closer in quality in the last year or two. The '12 was a bargain when I got it at about $45 but price has gone up a lot since - it's probably the very best Bordeaux of the '12 vintage that I've had - it seriously delivers.
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A - clear, deep ruby N - pronounced nose. clean, black current, baked black fruits, ripe cherry, tobacco, cedar, smoke, cigar box P - full bodied, fruits as above, high, fine tannins - wonderful extraction, high acid, F - long, complex finish
Outstanding: very elegant, classy wine with a punch
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color deep purple ink extract. nose some fragrance developing but still a bit closed for this quality wine. in sides of mouth pronounced tannin. some complexity developing but still incredibly young for 12 years old. will develop very well over many years.
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Killer. Drinking well now. Definitely decant and either drink slow or let sit. Really well rounded with a lot of depth. Chocolate and espresso by the end are brilliant. 10 more years will definitely benefit it, but still showing really well now with air.
Decanted 3hrs, I think it really needed more. The score is primarily due to the nose, which was just lovely, great Margaux perfume, enchanting. The palate was no slouch, displayed good elegance and charm, perhaps a touch of new wood, but I can see where this is going and I like the direction. Hold.
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Still pulling itself together -- needs to stay buried in the vaults for a few more years. Strong mix of red currants, anise, peat and even a little whiff of manure on the nose. Bright on the palate with zingy strawberry, some burnt spices, licorice. Astringent in the middle. Lots of tannins but a lot of fruit to match. Could be something very special in another 5-10 years.
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Still very young and a lot of power, needs more time. A good, typical Margaux in my opinion but nothing special. Keep it or give it some air if you open it now.
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A classic d'Issan for me. Good depth of colour, pretty, ripe fruit on the nose and a lovely texture that caresses the palate. This is understated and has charm, although I suspect that more recent vintages have added intensity and finesse. Lovely to drink now but no rush.
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Textbook Margaux aromatic profile. Still quite bold and brash, but so seductive. Really very very good now but will probably gain further complexity with more age
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Decanted 2 hours and the nose changed dramatically within this span from a floral and Margaux berry driven nose to a darker blackberry, cedar and tobacco nose that lead way towards a silky, full bodied palate that echoed similar flavors along with a floral note that lingered ever so pleasantly on the long finish.
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A wide variety at LWS (Gruaud, D'Issan, Rinaldi +++) (Colonial Beverage, Chesterland Ohio): Pop and pour, this needs some air or time, but I think it is drinking a bit better than many 05's at this point. Purple in color. The nose is quite pretty with cassis, Chambourd, spice and slight toast. On the palate, there are firm tannins, but tons of fruit. Cassis and dark cherries. Spice. Lovely texture. Long finish. I would probably still hold these but a few hour decant and it would be great. A nice treat.
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Has improved with a couple more years of bottle age but I still struggle with the rave reviews. Nicely balanced but no great length on the finish. There was a very heavy sediment as well as a stained inside of the bottle . Possibly I have acquired a half case that has suffered from previous poor storage
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I suppose my preferences have changed a bit over the past couple of years, but today I find this boring and overdone. Too sweet, too much chocolate and too little freshness. Just not my style.
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.5 hour decant. Dark fruit, cocoa, cedar. Fine tannins, but not well integrated yet. Has great potential, but needs more time in the cellar. Started to open up at the end of the night (after 3 hours). Need to buy another few bottles and hold for at least 5 years.
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FANTASTIC. We got this as part of an auction lot - we were actually more interested in the '05 Duhart-Milon and this was just a hanger-on in a lot of 3. Now it's ranking higher in price and point scores than the DM! Well shit. It's excellent. Perfect balance of tannin and flavor. Dust, mahogany, cinnamon, cocoa. And the nose...I want to snort this all day long. Rich and satisfying. Gah.
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19th Annual Lyon 10 Year Retrospective (Chez Lyon in Eugene, OR): Very similar to my 2/15 note. This time I picked up some blueberry in addition to the cassis, cocoa, and earth notes. Despite the 20 hour decant, the tannins are still in need of fatty meat, a long decant, or another decade! 93 on day 2.
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Deep purple. Ripe plums and blackberries. Nice cedar notes. Soft medium, relatively delicate. Very smooth silky palate, finishes with fine but very furry tannins. Flavours are somewhat muted, not especially expressive.
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Can you believe, getting better? Decant for an hour or less, and drink a marvelous Margaux bought in 2006 for $49.00! Gone is the forest floor and replaced by a spring and then summer garden. The cassis, blackberry, dewberry, and black currant are one, all balanced for a singular impression, a super smooth mouth feel. Elegant and delicious, the dark purple, concentrated tannins have gone to heaven, rich and textured, licorice, rose and hibiscus, sweet dark chocolate and clove, the beauty drinks like a first growth. Transporting to wine wonder.
During a CdB wine tasting dinner with Chateau d'Issan Managing Director Emmanuel Cruse. Great showing, consistent to my previous note. The public's favorite of the 85-95-05 trilogy.
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I bought this wine because Jean-Marc Quarin, Bordeaux based French wine journalist gave it an unusually high note en primeur. Parker also eluded to good quality with 92-94 Pt. and recently, in his 2005 retrospective, upgraded it to even 96 Pt. Today this wine is a reminder of the fact that there is grand Bordeaux below 100 USD the bottle if you are willing to dismiss the urge to be a "Channel/Hermes label drinker". Tasting note: Medium-dark garnet. Discrete nose of red and dark fruit, chocolate, cinnamon, flowers. On the palate medium bodied, striking elegance with very finely textured tannins and freshness (elegance and freshness is one of the hallmarks of 2005). A Ballerina! This is at the beginning of the drinking window only. Decant for 1h if you open it now. 94-95
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As always, this wine never disappoints. Earthy tobacco, chocolate, coffee, toffee and a lovely sweetness to it. Elegance and power. A good buy at the right price, drinking lovely right now though may improve even more with time. 95+pts.
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Starting to show secondary notes of tobacco, thyme, plum, cedar and earth on the nose. This has really filled out and improved over the past decade. There is a beautiful purity to the fruit, silky, soft tannins and a fresh, fruit filled finish that tastes as good as it feels. The wine was made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.
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Bu jour racine Robe dense très légèrement troublée Le nez est très parfumé et difficile à décrire (complexe?) café (Pia - champignon, noix) framboise Le vin est rond et délicat. Clairement,le passage en carafe et l aération produisent un effet. La finale est très agreable
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Color: dark purple Nose: very feminine, elegant, black fruits, good and will get better Palate: 2.5 hours decanted, really ripe but balanced, a very good issan, rich, full of body, this will be a great issan in 5-7 years time Rated: 93+
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Goedhuis tasting at the Saatchi Gallery West London. Sweet ripe fruits, cassis, cigar box, tobacco with a lengthy mineral finish; an excellent showing tonight.
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Wine night with Joe and Kyla (Joe's Bar and Grill): Decanted for 6 hours and probably should have been 26. We haven't opened an '05 Bordeaux in 2+ years because of how infantile they've been. But with a big fall '05 tasting coming up it's time to check-in. The nose was reasonably open with cassis, pencil, and cigar box notes. On the palate: big black fruit, wet stone, and mocha also show up. Tannins remain firm but at least it's no longer like stepping into the boxing ring... I'd still wait 2-3 more before trying again (if it weren't for the November Ritual).
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robe dense, cerise carmin souvenir des vins classique (bu à Metz/Lille en 1995...) Bonne acidité, équilibre, un peu maigre (?), un peu sableux, poussiéreux
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From a split. Much too young, but popped to get a feel for how the 2005s are doing. The Issan is a big, dense, broadshouldered and concentrated wine with tons of fruit. Showing primarily sweet fruit with a cassis lead, chocolate and tobacco.
A solid frame in terms of acidity and tannin structure confirms the pedigree of the vintage. There are signs of a complexity that will emerge, but at the moment this is still pretty monolithic in my opinion. Wait.
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Deeply compelling as always. Lovely coffee and chocolate tones, with a wonderful depth - almost a bass note. We had this after a vertical of Branaire-Ducru ('94, '99, '00, '09, '11) at K&L dinner in the city, and this d'Issan was far superior to all of the Branaire-Ducru - wasn't even close, to my palate. This vintage of d'Issan is always one of my favorites.
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Good nose, aromatic and clean. Sweet and smooth on entry, dry mid-palate, and slight warmth at finish. Big and complex wine with decent balance, but still not ready yet. May need another 5 years, it seems to mature very slowly versus last bottle tasted 2 years ago. Keep some for later on, not ready yet even on the 3rd day, this will be a long distance runner.
Such a treat as always, but this one was a step up from the last bottle. This has taken on more weight and concentration. It's pretty amazing - soo expresive and decadent, structured but yielding too. Earthy to begin with, and then it turns creamy and lush. I had the '09 Malescot St. Supery recently - another Margaux, which I love. This impressed more though. 96+pts. One would be very hard pressed to find Bordeaux showing better than this now for <$90. If there is such a bottle, do pray tell.
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Very dark purple colour. Powerful, jammy nose of ripe strawberries, dark cherries and some smoke. On the palate rather spicy and a bit bitter. Cherries, white pepper, and vanilla with some hints of cedar. The tannins have smoothened yet there is a lack of complexity and an overly spicy and firm after-palate. Medium length which pleasantly finishes on long cherry notes.
Very intense nose of dark strawberries, smoke. caramel. Silky tannins with deep rich cherries, tobacco, earth. Still a tad dry on elongated finish. One of the better '05s to date, and much better than any other d"Issan I have had previously. Can easily see the score jump a few points as time progresses.
A bit more powerful and oaky than I like, but this is focused and classy and may gain in finesse by the time it's in its prime. Great classic plum and cherry, spicy profile.
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God knows I was looking forward to it - all those rave reviews here on CT - and when first decanted the signs were excellent - nice dark colur with shine and legs on the glass and an intense nose of all manner of complexity but traditional cassis. cigar box, violets and lead pencil. I waited with bated breath and served the best steak with it about an hour later and .... a bit ordinary really - a little too soft and and did not deliver on the palate or the finish in the way I had expected - a decent Claret but I hope, at the price, this was an off bottle - loses a mark for poor QPR
Mammoth and majestic this wine has many years of glory. Chocolate, expresso, licorice, crushed roses, and black fruit along with the balance and richness make this a drink now or hold for more wine. Your choice and a great one.
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Unusual barnyard and wet forrest notes for a Margaux and in all 4 bottles consumed. Currant and blackberry dominate the taste with silky tannins. Chocolate and very good balance to the elegant side. After some time the tannins becomes more profound and the wine close down on nose and taste. Still in need for 2 years more before next bottle. Unusual style but still a good glas.
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Not concentrated but beautifully balanced. Blackcurrant, farmyard esp. on opening, some plum. Finishes longer than expected. Not closed - but natural cellar may mean more advanced than for others. Most approachable of recent 2005s.
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This was lovely as usual, but slightly more austere than usual with a slight green pepper note that I didn't notice before. Still one of my favorite Bordeaux at this pricepoint. Showing well now - am not sure it needs any more time in bottle; my Bordeaux-loving friend who I drank this with thought that it may not benefit from any more time in bottle.
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This is a elegant full bodied wine. With aromas of blackberries, caramel, and licorice. The length is wonderful, never stops. It quite oaky, with touch of chocolate, blackberries and pepper. Surprisingly mature now with soft tannins, would of course develop a lot over the next years. And im sure it`s a 95 pointer when we arrive 2018.
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Similar to previous impressions - one of my favorites. I picked up some lovely toffee and caramel notes this time, supplemental to my previous impressions of this wine.
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Couldn't resist as post-birthday treat to self, served with rump steak in peppercorn sauce, sauté tatties, mushrooms and hard little tomatoes.
Not quite as heavenly bouquet in the decanter as remembered though still enticing. Beguiling balance, leather, tobacco, ripe dark fruit as before and not too boozy either.
Silky satisfaction really arrived while rationing last half bottle with cheeses over an hour. In all an elegant solo evening.
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A rich royal purple full-bodied liquid oozes from the decantor (decant an hour) and the cassis and blackberry and forest floor waft from the gloss to nose. This wine is balanced and smooth and drinks like silk. Rose and tulips and sweet fruit and tannin are perfectly balanced in this textured beauty.
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This one was a bit more wet earth than some others I've had, but still had most of the hallmarks of what makes this wine so special for me. I love the finesse, elegance and deftness of this wine.
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Decanted for a couple hours, then drank over the course of the next 3 hours. Aroma is leather, dark fruit and tar...had a very tight aroma. Taste definitely had quite a bit of tannin at first, and still had a decent amount near the end, but it wasn't terrible. Taste is plum and coffee primarily. Decent level of acidity. This is obviously still too young, but better than I had expected and gets me intrigued for my other bottle's future. Definitely see potential for this score to go higher.
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The 2005 d'Issan is very early in it's drinkability window. Very reserved on its approach on the palette. Notes of coffee and deep chocolate. I am looking forward to tasting this as it ages over the next 20 years.
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Good but *very* restrained. Decanted 2.5 hours. Very good nose with coffee notes, and very smooth if light on the palette. Will be interesting to see where this goes.
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Rich nose of forest fruit on damp forest soil, hints of vanilla. Nice fruitiness, fat legs, chewy with tannins yet smoothness and beautiful length. Pleasant on the palate and after-palate and big enough to be enjoyed on its own or with red meat and venison.
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Very beautiful wine. Full and complete nose of tobacco, coffee, forest fruit. Silky smooth attack - the rich tannins require a while to level-off - with powerful palate of dark fruit, jam, toasted coffee and tobacco notes, some subtle vanilla and white pepper. Beautiful length and full bodied. Will smoothen further within the next 5 years.
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Concentrated, a lot of coffee and chocolate notes, so seamless and balanced. They really did a great job with this. One of my very favorite '05s, and drinking well now, but will gain even more complexity with time. My friend and I shared a bottle of the '06 at the same time. The '06 is clearly cut from the same cloth and is a lovely wine in its own right, but is clearly less concentrated (the wine even looks so much less concentrated) and has a bit of forest floor notes and one or two edges here and there. The '05 by comparison is just so much smoother and complex.
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My best purchasing decision yet especially with the 25% Tesco online first timer discount (just use a different email address to grab this yourselves).
Decanted for 90 mins and paired with veal in breadcrumbs, saute potatoes and salad - later mix of SW cheeses and Normandie brie.
Enchanting Proustian smells including leather, tobacco - sent me back to step-father's Opel Manta circa 1977. Slight upfront tannin but soon went and then two hours of sublimes 'ums' and 'aahs'. Another seven bottles to spread across two decades of daydreams.
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Good nose. Notes of forest floor, mint, blackberry, dark cherry with toasty oak. Medium-bodied with sweet and sour tannins. Slightly dry aftertaste and long finish. Lower viscosity but higher acidity and more prominent tannins than 2006 vintage, seems to be more "lively" compares with 2006 vintage. Label indicated 13.5% alcohol with no heat. Good balance. It is drinkable now but still not ready for prime consumption yet, may take another 5 years to resolve the tannins nicely. Good QPR for Bordeaux 2005 vintage. On 2nd day, great nose, aromatic, clean and focus. Slightly softer tannins with plenty of fruits. Maintains very good balance. This is delicious, need to upgrade the score. 94-96 pts.
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PNP. Nice deep purple colored wine. Upon opening the wine was very aromatic. Lovely plum, raspberry and earth scents on the nose. Some of the same notes as on the nose along with mint, milk chocolate and some great spice component. Nice and fresh. Smooth round tannins great balance between fruit and acidity. I can see this drinking extremely well with another five years of age on it and last for another two decades.
SS 94pts.
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Somewhat dark purple center to a translucent purple rim with nice medium legs. Nose of typical Margaux with rasberry, blackberry notes, mint and menthol, mocha and dark chocolate, tobacco, truffle, mushroom, forest floor. Dark fruit on the palate with spice, tobacco, vanilla cream, balanced fruit with nice acidity and well integrated tannins expressive of great aging potential with a reasonably dry chalky finish. Agree with Jeff Leve, and *vine*.
1 hour later, exquisite and worthy of more score. Exceptional chocoalte, tobacco, smooth tannins, I only wish I had lamb or steak sitting in front of me.
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From 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, the wine was aged in 55% new oak. Still deep in color, the wine opens with floral, black cherry, forest floor, cassis, tobacco and spicy aromas. With supple, refined textures, concentration of fruit and a long, elegant, blackberry finish, this continues to develop perfectly. Give it a few more years and enjoy it over the next 15-25 years. 2005 Chateau d’Issan remains well priced for consumers looking for value and quality in Bordeaux.
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Very dark opaque purple color, tight nose of plums and dark berry fruits. The taste has about all you can pack into a fine Margaux-a real iron fist in a velvet glove. Most all of the adjectives recorded by other tasters on this site can be found in this layered wine. It is 60% Cabernet and 40% Merlot and its balance makes it a wine whose maturity should be measured in decades and not years. If there are any bottles around in 15 or 20 years then I hope I am here to try one. A seamless classic!
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Muted nose predominantly of cassis. Palate dominated by primary black fruit elements presented in a restrained elegant style. Very sumptuous and balanced and all the elements are there for a great wine down the road.
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I love this wine! Impeccable balance, great fruit and wonderful aromatics. Not sure if this wine will shut down, but it is drinking extremely well right now.
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What a beautiful wine. Still holding up just as good the following day after vacume seal. I'd describe this wine as restrained exuberance. It's quite rich and decadent but at the same time holds back. This is why I love Bordeaux. This one is pretty pricey, setting me back $75 plus tax, but I feel it's worth the price of admission and am tempted to get more. I've recently had some lovely '05s like Clerc Milion and Grand Puy Lacoste, which are rated similarly but I don't think they show quite the same balance and finese as this beauty from d'Issan. Lovely.
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Deep in color, popped and poured, the wine offered tobacco, earth, cassis, truffle, smoke and cigar box scents. Full bodied, soft textured and round, this young Margaux wines needs another 5-7 years before it begins to strut its stuff.
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Popped, poured a small sample and aerated for 60 minutes in bottle. Medium-plus, deep red/purple hue. Aromas of black fruits, black cherry,violet, dried tobacco, pencil shavings, and a bit of "funky" earth. Medium-plus body. On the palate, this Margaux shows poise and finesse through moderately expressive flavors of earthy, dark fruits with hints of spice and minerals. Initially easy to drink and nicely balanced, after a few hours it becomes more astringent, with tannins taking over on the moderate-plus close. Still, this is a great bottle of claret and one that should be singing with another 4-6+ years.
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Blind tasted the Chateau D'Issan against a 2006 Cakebread Cellars. 4 out of 5 of my guests chose the D'Issan. The Cakebread was very drinkable and a lovely wine, but the D'Issan had a complexity that the Cakebread lacked. Both wines held up well to grilled steak. The D'Issan is ready to drink now, but will not doubt improve with age.
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Probably my WOTN. Margaux cherry and violet emenating from the glass. It still is compact and heavy but well balanced. With more time in glass, the wine developed some beautiful merlot driven tertiary notes of truffles and kirsch. Really mercurial as it kept changing but was always knit in good balance. I thought it may be the Palmer. 94-97.
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taste: big and very chewy tannins that certainly show off the youth of the wine with a real good medium body feel to it. Balanced tones of cedar, kirsch, spice box, and dark red fruits
overall: As with all early notes of 05 bordeauxs, this is a real young wine. It's wound pretty tight right now but is showing classic margaux tones and comes off as a well balanced young bordeaux
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Drank over the course of a long evening and several bottles with friends. From hazy memory, much more approachable than the Bahans. Dense and balanced. Excellent.
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For the first hour or so this wine was earthy and quite delicate. After opening for an hour the nose developed a light tar/asphalt/fuel issue that I actually like along with tobacco and pencil shavings. Mineral and floral notes on the front and mid palate with dark semi sweet fruits. Nice firm tannins finish it off. Beautiful wine, very elegant and well balanced.
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Very impressive. Was impressed with the '06 too, but this is a little more complex and powerful. Chocolate the coffee tones - I'm surprised how drinkable it is now - one of the better '05s I've tried.
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Deep in color, this structured, traditionally made Margaux opens with earth, cassis, spice, blackberry and floral aromas. Full bodied and loaded with ripe, dark berries, this rich wine will improve for decades.
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With the Attorney-Oenophiles. My first 2005 Bordeaux sample. Dark and deep and dense. Shows primary fruit and oak. Good potential, but needs many, many, many years.
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It should be noted that I decanted this bottle for about five hours and drank it over a two day period.
I was pleasantly surprised that even at this young age, this wine has no noticeable hard edges. I am glad that this wine is only aged on 50% new barriques, as this clearly prevents the oak from overwhelming all other components (specially its delicious black fruit). It exhibits well rounded tannings and lively acidity. Overall, this 2005 d'Issan displayed a voluptous mouth-fill that I really enjoyed.
Based on this wine balance and impressive length (i.e. 1+ minute), I have no doubt of the staying power of this wine. It definitely will not surprise me if I ever rate this wine higher.
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Linking With Bordeaux (Wine Exchange - Orange, CA): Dark red purple core with a radiant purple rim. Gorgeous and already complex, the bouquet on this wine yields flowers, wet earth, blackberry, and cassis. The superb fruit flavors of currant, dark berries, and minerals combine with tremendous contrast of power and elegance on the palate. Structured, complex, and balanced. This is the second time I have tasted this wine and it has been profound both times. Some of the other wines I have given high scores to from this vintage may not be liked by all but this one should offer something for everyone at maturity; it is that good. 95+
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I was surprised to see this still on shelves for $65 after its 95-point Parker rating. If it disappears over the next few months, it'll be because of that rating, not because it tastes particularly impressive now. It's a very backwards, rugged wine, with sandbags of dry tannin and cranberryish fruit slapped with just enough oak toast to give it a blacker tinge and a scorched asphalt character. It's mostly mute on the nose with just a little wooliness and none of the classic Margaux perfume. It ought to age just fine since there's no shortage of structure, but I don't understand deriving much pleasure from it today regardless of where your tastes lie, as it has neither the inky concentration and fruit-gobs that the Parker points tend to connote, nor the perfume and elegance of old-school Margaux. Hopefully the latter will come out with age, and indeed the leftovers the next day are much more supple and inviting.
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rich purple color, mocha-coffee oak (subsiding after time in decanter), red fruits w/ merlot character, apple blossom, sour plum. Firm, woody tannins. Given a little more time in the cellar, and a little more time to breathe before drinking may show bettter.
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Bottle was open but not decanted for 2hrs. before tasting. Initially shy and un-forthcoming aromatically, approx. 4-5hrs. after the bottle was opened it started to sing. Elegant bouquet of Margaux elegance, purple flower, hint of anise, fine-grained cedar, whiff of smokiness, lovely! Tannin and structure are obviouly firm, but not coarse at all. Still somewhat primary at this stage. Excellent concentration of fruit, no obvious acidity. Will be beautiful with a few years of bottle age, however, cannot agree with RP95 at this point in time.
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Casual Friday Night Steaks (Home): Decanted for 3-4 hours. Full purple color. Big clean black fruit nose with classic cedar notes. Big bold black fruit with coffee and black spice on the palate. Still quite tight and young, but good stuffing here.
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Decanted for 6 hours. Day 1: Brilliant dark raspberry purple to the rim with medium legs in the glass. An intoxicating bouquet of crème de cassis, wild berries, flowers, chocolate, creosote, and explosive minerality. Like walking along a forest creek surrounded by wild flowers. The palate initially shows a sweet sensation that quickly melds with the acidity for a beautiful texture. This is superbly seductive in a supple fruit driven style with complex notes of boysenberry, cherry, and minerals. Tremendous balance, elegance, freshness, ultra fine sweet tannins, and a super long finish. While this has great concentration the balance is so superb you can't really perceive the individual components even at this young age. For me this is quickly becoming the trademark of the 2005 vintage. Recorked with 1/3 bottle overnight. Day 2: Darker opaque red purple to the rim today. The nose seems darker and more brooding with gobs of berries, stones, floral perfume, and toast. The palate is more mineral driven, tannic, full-bodied, and structured today but the gorgeous crème de cassis and cherry notes are still there. This wine seemed to be showing more baby fat yesterday and after being opened for 30+ hours more of its ample aging structure. I really liked this for its complexity, elegance, and balance, each of which it has slightly more of than the stunning Lascombes I have previously tasted.
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This one hit the spot for me. Definately a super margaux. Beautiful nose of fresh sweet red fruit, flowers, polished tannins, littel dense, medium to long finish. Its very nice.
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Deep, deep red, beautiful bouquet of ripe red fruit, cassis, saddle leather, tobacco and tea leaves, sweet soft palate in perfect harmony with the nose, medium spicy finish, very elegant Margaux
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Very complex wine. Very much finesse as well. This is a textbook elegant Margaux. Although young, the tannin is very soft. Now, so young already so attractive, but the wine will be definitely be a beauty in 10 years from now as well.
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4/2/2024 - popopdrops Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ikke dekantert. Ordinært behag, balanse, mangler spenst og nærve.
Noe mer spenst og nærve dag 3. Absolutt.
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4/2/2024 - drjb Likes this wine: 94 Points
This remains a completely classic bottle of Margaux with a deep crimson purple colour and beautiful aromatics of blackcurrant, blackberries, violets, cedar and dark chocolate. The palate is rich and intense with layers of dark fruit flavours, tobacco, chocolate, violets and liquorice leading into a fine line of balancing tannins providing lovely persistence.
Wonderful !
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3/9/2024 - Pags44 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really starting to come in to its own, good structure and fruit, but hints of secondary notes start to show after a couple hours in the decanter. This can certainly age longer, but a lovely "teenage" Bordeaux here right now.
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3/7/2024 - winot Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark red, verging on black. Rich, dark, dense nose, cocoa powder and cedar. Smooth, large-scaled palate, but still medium bodied. Flavours are trying hard to stay within an appropriate range, but there are certainly wisps of dark chocolate and charry oak. A bit large-scaled for my palate, but others may appreciate its heft. There is certainly nothing out of place, it is balanced and tasty, but the dark aspect is just a bit outside my wheelhouse. More time in the cellar may well dumb it down and bring some elegance to the fore.
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2/2/2024 - 831900_ Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking well: dark red fruit in an envelope of cocoa, earth, and some herb. Gentle, soft mouthfeel. Light, acidic finish.
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1/1/2024 - karanan Likes this wine: 97 Points
Cork disintegrated, but decanted with filter for 2 hours. Absolutely gorgeous wine, and probably one of the best I have tasted in years. Still retains slight fruit and ever so slight sweetness. The definition of a beautiful floral margaux. In other words - it's sex in a bottle.
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12/23/2023 - HENNO1 wrote: 94 Points
Last drunk in 2019 and what a difference time has made. Still fruit forward but the tannins have integrated and so you now have a lovely fruit forward wine. Years ahead but now drinking finally and really quite nice. D’issan over delivers for the price point and this is no exception. Enjoy now but probably better in a few years time
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12/17/2023 - swade wrote: 91 Points
I wanted to feature this wine at a tasting of 14, but it did not go to plan. I had two bottles pulled and the first was corked. The second had some plums and graphite, but was rough. The third was also corked. All three corks fell apart and were crumbly. Very unfortunate and not a good showing compared to the group. Still, the sound bottle was excellent, but the competition was tough. 91.
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12/9/2023 - Marquis du Vin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delicious bottle! Dark cherry, wonderful dark fruit aromas, splendid finish that tantilizes the pallet. Aging is perfect and I would drink my remaining 5 anytime onward. 2005 is on of my all time favorite vintages, and this one is absolutely one of them!
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12/8/2023 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 94 Points
Splash decanted. Dark brick red/ruby core, with a hint of rusty rim fade. Dried fig, black cherry, truffles, and sea salt sprinkled dark chocolate. Dry, super smooth palate, with long lingering, velvety acidity. Soft tannins on the long finish.
Lots of elegance to this nearly 20 year old Margaux. Enjoyed this at a wonderful wine bar in NYC (La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels) before seeing Wicked on Broadway. This drank great, with little aeration.
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11/22/2023 - drjb Likes this wine: 93 Points
On return from London this wine delivers with a classical, graceful expression of Margaux. In the glass it shows a deep crimson purple colour with a beautiful aromatics of blackcurrant, blackberries, violets, cedar and dark chocolate. The palate is rich and intense with layers of dark fruit flavours, tobacco, chocolate, violets and liquorice leading into a fine line of balancing tannins providing lovely persistence. Delicious as always.
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10/31/2023 - Enfantterrible wrote: 93 Points
Thirteen years since my last bottle. This is marvellous. Beautiful floral nose. Rich red fruit, leather, spice, with excellent balance. Paired with 140 day Italian beef. Wonderful. $45 en primeur.
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10/30/2023 - Mdog Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark ruby to garnet
Med heavy body
Initial nose of red fruit hints of green pepper but after 30 min I was hit with the aroma of gardena and this pesisted and was very fun to smell
Palate well integrated tannin that can only be described as a velvety mouth feel, dark cherry and plum with a hint of eucalyptus rounds out mid palate and finish. This is a complex and well integrated wine. The fruit is lovely and well balanced but it is not a “fruit bomb”
I saved 2 oz on shoulders in fridge for 48 hrs. Although fruit is somewhat diminished it is still lovely. It ready to drink but don’t feel pressured. Kept in a temp and humidity controlled cellar this will keep for many more years
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10/13/2023 - Mleh Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was ready to go after 30-45mins. Incredible nose of exotic spice, vanilla, rosewood, a little barnyard and blackberries. On the palate, dark fruits, spice. Some tannin with medium acidity. This was really a joy to drink. I recorked and left half the bottle to drink with dinner about 5 hours later. It had completely changed by then. Almost entirely barnyard. Almost all the fruit and spice had gone. I guess it was close to the end of its life. That first hour of drinking was incredible though.
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10/7/2023 - thesternowl wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2005 d’Issan is showing off both the attributes of the vintage and Margaux. Its color is deep and aside from some slight rim variation, it hardly shows its age. Handsomely perfumed, the nose is redolent of black currants, black plums, dark brambles, tobacco, leather, gravelly earth and subtle warm spices. Maybe a kiss of Brett? On the palate, the wine is dry with medium(+?) tannins and medium(+?) acid. Both come across so smooth but they are certainly there. The notes from the nose are confirmed. The finish is long and satisfying. Bold and yet refined. Suave. Textbook. Drinking very well right now and certainly doesn’t need more time however, it’s hard to imagine a day in the next 20+ years that this wine won’t perform.
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9/22/2023 - Somm David T wrote: 96 Points
If I put this in a blind red tasting, I’m pretty sure that many would not call Bordeaux. Rarely do I call perfectly ripe fruit. This 05 fruit is perfectly ripe. I would say this 05 is at its peak it is so good but it truly isn’t. This D’Issan has 12-15 years left of good drinking with a 5 year slide after. 2005 Bordeaux’s are drinking exceptionally as it was perceived when they were birthed. Three hour decant.
The wine glides effortlessly & beautifully over the palate. It is delicious. Ripe, floral, not quite candied fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherry kirsch, black plum, strawberries & blue fruits. Mid berry cola/licorice, black tea, softened lead pencil, dry crushed rocks, dry river stone, limestone, mostly fresh tobacco, firecracker, flinty spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, just moist, dark turned earth, drying clay, volcanic stones & ash, loaminess, dry to slightly fresh mixed herbs, sandstone, sandalwood, some black pepper, red, purple, dark, blue florals framed in violets, Hawaii waterfall acidity with a well polished, balanced, nicely tensioned & structured finish that lasts minutes. Wire to wire outstanding.
It is interesting reading the multiple RP reviews after my notes…from 90-92 young by Neil Martin to his 94 later & then Parker himself in 2015 a 96. Not surprising that time in bottle is constant evolution and worth the wait in proper storage.
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9/21/2023 - bdisk1235 wrote: 94 Points
From a magnum. The color has shifted from the darker color of the more recent vintages to a ruby color. Many more aged characteristics than the 2010 - I was surprised it was from a magnum and would have guessed it was a 2000 based on the appearance and taste. No evidence of decline and is drinking wonderfully now.
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6/27/2023 - popopdrops Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ikke dekantert. Vidunderlig fra andre glass. Tøff og ung dag 2. Pen dag 3.
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6/9/2023 - Tudz Drkl Likes this wine:
Dark fruits with violets, cedar and eastern spices on the nose. The palate was rich and lightly textured with silky tannins. Great acidity carried the rich dark and layered fruits through a long riding and descending profile. Excellent!
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4/29/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking really well right now. Can’t see it improving with further age. Great structure and fruit. Just a wonderful glass of Bordeaux Opened for seven hours and then decanted right before drinking.
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3/26/2023 - FEDEVIDAL Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decantado dos horas. Color rojo Burdeos intenso y de capa muy alta. Aroma muy intenso, bonita mezcla de fruta negra, madera, pimienta y mina de lapiz, con evolución a humo y ceniza. Boca con entrada intensa, acidez alta, sensación maderosa, un poco rasposa, alta expresividad frutal y madera y final muy largo
Carece del pulido y refinamiento propios de la denominación, parece un vino en estado bruto, no creo que más tiempo lo solucione
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3/22/2023 - d'Artagnan wrote: 93 Points
Pas goûté depuis 2014. J'avoue que je testais pour savoir si j'en envoyais chez Iegor pour faire de la place!
Nez de prunes, cassis, mais surtout très mine de crayon. Après à peine 30 minutes, il est bien expressif, signe d’un vin à maturité. La structure est arrondie, c’est bien goûteux, profond, avec la finesse classique de l’appellation. La finale est précise et raffinée, saline à souhaits. Le vin a encore un aspect jeune, énergique, mais il est prêt et son équilibre est admirable. Quel beau Bordeaux!
Et bien elles resteront toutes bien confortablement au cellier! 93 pts
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3/19/2023 - Nacnud wrote:
I don’t subscribe to any publications but it’s safe to say the drinking window on this app is incorrect (2025-2075?). If you like old wine drink now, if you like wine in it’s prime (or young and fresh), like me, you might too late. The cork was a bit dry eventhough it’s been horizontal all this time (and I bought this before it ever went to the floor when I was a retail wine buyer), so maybe it was compromised prior to purchasing. At any rate, it’s barely alive and I just poured a 2000 down the sink last night. Apparently D’Issan is an early drinker. This bottle is decidedly dull.
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2/27/2023 - foyfrcs Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still, as expected, drinking really well. Marginally better than last year, overall characteristics unchanged. A little fuller/smoother and it will be interesting to see how this evolves over the next few years.
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2/16/2023 - Renevin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nez expressif. Cuir, fumée, fruits noirs. En bouche moyennement corsé, ample. Bien équilibré et tout en rondeur. Belle longueur sur de beaux tanins. Attendre encore 4-5 ans pour la prochaine bouteille.
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12/31/2022 - JS199 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted a couple hours. Lots of barnyard funk, manure, trying to open. Strangest bottle yet, good but never really materialized.
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12/5/2022 - JS199 wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely beautiful. Very open, tannins resolved. Margaux all the way...medium body, violets. rocks and some dirt.
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11/25/2022 - iahviahv wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for an hour…..what an exquisite wine should taste like!
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11/15/2022 - rstark Likes this wine: 91 Points
still very tight, but balanced with both fruit & cigar box on the nose. On palate fruit subdued with plenty of chewy tannins. Look forward to trying again in 3-4 years.
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9/4/2022 - ppandian Likes this wine: 90 Points
Same notes as the last bottle. Excellent with grilled ribeye on Labor Day.
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9/4/2022 - swade wrote: 93 Points
No formal note. Drank up at the lake. Great choice with grilled fillet mignon. There is a big core of black currants and a minerally tail. Clean. Plus finish. 93
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7/10/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Floral in nature, finesse in style, medium-bodied, fresh, soft, silky, and vibrant, the sweet red berries along with notes of earth and tobacco are starting to show quite well. The refined finish, with its touch of crushed rocks, red fruits, and forest leaf has only a bit of tannin to resolve. Drink from 2022-2040.
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6/30/2022 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 92 Points
A but atypical palate and nose, but balanced and delicious.
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6/23/2022 - drjb Likes this wine: 94 Points
This remains a classical 2005 Margaux with both floral elegance and a strictness to the palate that suggests plenty in the tank for the future. It shows a deep crimson purple colour with a beautiful aromatics of blackcurrant, blackberries, violets, cedar and dark chocolate. The palate is rich and intense with layers of dark fruit flavours, tobacco, chocolate violets and liquorice leading into a fine line of balancing tannins providing lovely persistence and linearity. There is a lot a lovely wine here.
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6/22/2022 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 93 Points
Lovelly aged Bordeaux, got a bit thinon the backend, then back to life at the end.
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6/12/2022 - englishman's claret wrote: 87 Points
Two bottles from the same case showing identically, with a tight-ish nose, serious style (slightly dour), and deeply-pitched back fruit. This is a pretty big wine but it doesn’t come across as very Margaux-like and it seems quite forced.
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4/2/2022 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 94 Points
Cork was extremely firm and snapped coming out of the bottle; virtually no seepage moving up an otherwise pristine cork.
3 1/2 hours after decanting the nose shows earth, faint pipe tobacco (cherry), cigar box and beef. Tannins overpower the fruit but don’t leave the palate overly dry during the long finish.
Out last of 3 bottles, this should still be fine for 5+ years; lack enough experience with this property to to properly gauge. Fine on its own but really sang with our T-bones cooked over hickory and duck-fat baby potatoes
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3/27/2022 - John McCabe wrote: 97 Points
My last of these '05 d'Issan. Always a standout for me - one of my top ten favorite wines of all time, for sure. Showing brilliantly at this stage, perhaps a hint of it fading from now, as it's power was somewhat reserved to begin with. This has beautiful sweet black fruit, along with a mesmerizing earthiness and hint of dryness - so classy but also hedonistic. A real pleasure to drink. One I tend to keep an eye out for. I paid $120 for this batch, and it delivers.
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3/2/2022 - dlf-48 wrote:
Opened up after an hour blackberry smoke
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2/11/2022 - Redbordo Likes this wine: 96 Points
First one of the case. Surprisingly good, far better than I expected. Well balanced and with secondary characteristics of leather and and mushroom. At least a decade ahead.
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1/31/2022 - foyfrcs Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet.
Black currants, raisins, black pepper nose.
Black cherries, figs, prunes, meaty palate.
Interesting to revisit 3+ years after previous tasting.
It hasn’t improved, but still very good wine which continues to drink well. Should continue to do so for 5-10 years.
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1/29/2022 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 93 Points
Leftover sample from the day before. Drank in Gabriel Standart.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose medium+ intensity, with aromas of garden flowers, soil earth, dark red plums, blackberries, dark cherries, redcurrant, tobaco, woody spice. Developing.
On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium+ alcohol, high resolving tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of dark red plums, blackberries, dark red cherries, redcurrant, chocolate, tobacco, wood spice. Long finish.
Very good quality. Complex. Acidity sensation not great, but could just a phase. Have to see how it ages further.
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1/14/2022 - JMN71 wrote:
Velvet smouth Margaux. Starting smoothly and drinkable window but can last for 10+ years. 94p
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1/1/2022 - John McCabe wrote: 97 Points
Similar to previous notes. This is such a great example of what a great vintage can do to a seemingly mid-tier Bordeaux. One of the very best '05s I've had, and it eclipses many of the more heralded, lofty Chateaux. One to seek out if one hasn't tried it.
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12/11/2021 - pclin wrote: 93 Points
PnP. ABV 13.5%.
Dark garnet in color, no sign of aging on the edge. Expressive nose from get-go. Notes of oyster shells, flowers, tobacco, and wood spices. Tannins have soften a bit vs previous bottle many years ago but still plenty hanging around. Finished long, spicy, and warm. A touch bitter at backend. Not yet reached maturity but approachable. Should continue to evolve and improve.
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11/6/2021 - drjb Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine remains very consistent although this bottle needed a full double decant to wake it up from its slumber then revealing a classical Margaux deep crimson purple colour with a beautiful aromatics of blackcurrant, blackberries, violets, cedar and dark chocolate. The palate is rich and intense with layers of dark fruit flavours, tobacco, chocolate violets, liquorice leading into a fine line of balancing tannins providing lovely persistence.
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11/4/2021 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice Margaux. Drinking right now. Quite delicate and needs decanting for min. 3 hours. Enjoyable, but for the price ($120) I feel I would get more enjoyment out of an aged Rioja.
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11/1/2021 - John McCabe wrote: 97 Points
It's been a few years since I had one of these, and it did not disappoint. Surely the very best vintage of d'Issan to date, this has everything - so much power, but also finesse, and the tannins are so well integrated at this stage of development. it may be at its peak now really, as I could see it losing some power from here on out. This has a sweet core of black fruit, a chocolate, coffee and tobacco profile, some smoke but nothing overwhelming, such a beautiful wine showing well at maturity. Price is high now and I got it at a good price of about $120 all told, but a great price for what it is.
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8/6/2021 - wino121 wrote: 92 Points
Vinturied into decant, consumed over several hours.
Still youthful, subtle, ripe with a brilliant finish.
Drink now with decant, thru 2025/7.
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6/8/2021 - misterstarre wrote: 88 Points
Too ripe for me. Cassis driven. Linear. Still tannic. Very new world. Meh.
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5/21/2021 - Battersea James Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful classic nose. On the palate, I was struck by the power and intensity which I guess is the 2005 vintage. Tannins integrated well. Very smooth. Still lots of primary fruit, cassis, tar. Nice long finish. This is clearly a great wine but to my mind it’s best years are ahead of it.
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4/18/2021 - Mdubnik Likes this wine: 93 Points
Quite smooth. From a 375ml bottle. In a great place, but still has quite a bit of life remaining.
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4/16/2021 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dirt, tannin, dirt, tannin. Fruit? Maybe somewhere. Not sure this is ever going to have a prime.
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4/4/2021 - Barks Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very enjoyable and forward wine. Drinking beautifully now.
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4/2/2021 - belfast taxman wrote: 92 Points
Three years from our last bottle and at long last, this wine appears to be showing its true potential. Classic cedar, cassis notes on the nose and the palate where there was also hints of medicinal liquorice with excellent length and depth. Superb with Spanish milk lamb.
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3/27/2021 - thejaffer wrote:
Classic Bordeaux —great tenderloin
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3/27/2021 - thejaffer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Plenty of life left—classic Bordeaux
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2/18/2021 - jrh82 wrote: 90 Points
Decent wine, although think I prefer the 08, 12 and 14 to the 05, surprisingly. Bit too big of a frame and dark on the fruit profile for my taste.
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2/8/2021 - Tudz Drkl wrote:
dark garnet, green pepper, strong blackcurrant, vanilla, rubber, forest, menthol, cigar box, pine needle, mint, can use more time to integrate
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1/29/2021 - burgund Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious and finally more ready than my previous bottles. Margaux nose with quite a bit vanilla from cask and ripe blackberry cassis fruit. Taste velvet, sweet, tobacco, oriental spices and tanins not to tight. No hurrying with the last 7/12.
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1/24/2021 - ppandian wrote: 91 Points
Nose of camphor, cassis and tobacco. Dark fruits, sweet, velvety tannins. This wine is drinking beautifully now....great deal at 50 bucks!
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11/25/2020 - JS199 wrote: 94 Points
Ditto to my previous note. Really good here with plenty of time left.
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10/24/2020 - JJYoyo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very similar observations to last time. Very powerful nose of cherry, clove, violets, burnt wood - in spite of the reduction. Taste is full of strawberry and cassis, smoked spices, truffle, roast beef? Did not get the pronounced anise that I did last time (3years ago). Tannins are still fierce. Should come together and be better in another 5-10 years. Lots of potential - more forceful and ripe, with maybe a little less finesse, than other recent Issan.
Score : 91+. Relative to expectations: +
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10/10/2020 - phynes wrote: 93 Points
Like other ‘05s I have drank recently, this felt young and a bit tight but still a high-class, nicely balanced wine. A bit dark and brooding for a Margaux - look forward to revisiting in five years time.
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9/23/2020 - ProfByron Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dense dark colour.
Green peppercorns on the nose, otherwise quite dense, closed.
Quite thick texture. Savoury, burly for Margaux... I think I will breathe it and see if it opens up more...
A day later (half bottle filled to brim) it’s still burly yet green. Where’s the class?
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7/25/2020 - swade wrote: 94 Points
Black currants, graphite and cedar. Super silky and polished. This tightened up at three hours. This wine feels like it’s just entering its drinking window. 94
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6/24/2020 - JS199 wrote: 95 Points
This was an exceptional D'issan, better than the '00 and any other vintages I've had. Still young, full of power, but starting to show its stuffing and will only get better with time. 94/95
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6/10/2020 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Third Zoom tasting – Blind Bordeaux (Mi Casa): Youthful yet harmonious nose displaying perfectly ripe red fruit, cherry, plum, light caramel, lead pencil, cedar and earth. Perfectly integrated palate, very finely layered sweet red fruit, silky, polished and harmonious, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long sweet red fruit driven finish. This is drinking beautifully. Like the 04 LB, not terribly complex but harmonious and delicious.
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5/9/2020 - wdcwine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Just entering the early stages of its drinking window. The power of the Cab is well complemented by the elegance of the 40% merlot to create a great Margaux that will long outlive most of us. This is one of those great Margaux wines checking all the boxes that you can enjoy tonight, or wait 30 years and beyond. Saw one review with a drinking window of 2075 and I can see that.....but no need to wait.
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5/1/2020 - psi wrote: 93 Points
A pleasure. Some mature notes but it has quite some years ahead of it
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3/23/2020 - Winemaker51 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Outstanding and quintessential Margaux elegance! 1 hour decant was enough. Aroma has some Brett (if which I don’t mind in small amount); crushed stones (d’Issan terroir), black cherry and sandalwood. With more time; the Brett goes away and reveals more layered red fruits and crushed stones. Palate is silky and lots of dark cherry fruits; with feathery tannins and long finish of damp earth. I think it’s arriving at Apogee and should be opened now; with holding steady for a few more years. You’ll be happy with this claret as is.
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12/26/2019 - jsander Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow. Decanter for two hours and nicely opened up. Drinking well but lots how headroom to go.
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10/12/2019 - Honeyburst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still improving and better than the first bottle
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10/3/2019 - SteveLong wrote:
Decant first minimum of an hour.
Super funky barnyard smell when first opened which wafted off quickly. Dark berries, chocolate. Some anise in the nose. Really tasty.
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9/29/2019 - ELH wrote: 95 Points
Fruit (cassis and blackberries) and tannins in elegant harmony. Aging gracefully. Mature but with some aging potential.
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9/15/2019 - lquam Likes this wine: 94 Points
From a vertical tasting/wine dinner of 2000, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2015. 2005 was opened a few hours before the tasting. Dark and concentrated with tobacco, sweet fruit, and graphite on the nose. Blue fruits dominating the palate with mineral notes and complex spice notes. Tannins still in balance; this one will last for another decade or more. Served with the 2000 with duck breast and cassis sauce. Just about everyone's favorite from the tasting.
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7/23/2019 - martin_e Likes this wine: 95 Points
Awesome mature wine, just takes time to open. Light tobacco on the nose; tastes of black fruit: blueberry, cassis, ripe/overripe blackberry, with a hint of nuts and even salty water at the end. Long finish. Integrated silky tannins. It’s a pleasure to drink.
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5/26/2019 - ctc wrote: 91 Points
Good, a little watery.
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4/7/2019 - Honeyburst Likes this wine: 91 Points
A double decant opened this up a lot. This is packed with fruit and has a multitude of years ahead of it. No need to hurry but in great shape. It will be constantly tempting to try it again - although probably not wise.
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3/23/2019 - HENNO1 wrote: 93 Points
Bottle 2. A baby and not to be touched again for a while but I suspect it will be truly excellent in time (10 years ?!) Chocolate; dark fruits etc
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2/21/2019 - ELH wrote: 91 Points
Blackcurrants and graphite. Tannins a gentle but firm presence. Elegant.
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2/19/2019 - Philip Yang Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good persistent nose. Elegant and balanced. Soft tannins. Short to medium finish. Ready to drink now.
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2/3/2019 - tb76 wrote:
WOTN compared with 3 other solid wines from Bordeaux and California. Still youthful, vibrant, strong secondary notes and emerging tiertiary. 3 hour decant, could have been longer, had this wine singing with an excellently prepared beef Wellington. 92
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1/29/2019 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted with steak. Not sure if it was the bottle or the night but this was reticent and mostly showing dirt. Mid+ body, Mid-acid. 13.5%
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1/23/2019 - CamWheeler wrote: 91 Points
SLDS January 2019: Blackcurrant, redcurrant and tobacco on the nose. Rich fruit with concentration and good depth. A cooler streak runs through the middle and gives the wines profile a lift. Builds well in the glass.
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1/6/2019 - pgb67 wrote: 88 Points
Holidays 2018 (Dogwood Grove): On this night, not my thing –tight and not particularly flavorful. Dried herb, tea, and cedar notes dominate. Nevertheless, it was long and showed elements of class. Seemed to be the least successful wine with my guests based on how much wine was left at the end of the meal.
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12/25/2018 - Old Claret Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good but disappointing in light of the great reviews.
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12/19/2018 - GNBB wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 2hrs. Intense deep red in colour. Inky nose, very blackcurranty, light graphite, light violets. Palate is rich & big; firm but fine tannins, good acidity. Again, blackcurrants on palate with some salinity and light peppers but does have limited persistence at present. Very drinkable now but it’s a big deep inky wine & it feels like there is more to go for. Drink now-2030.
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12/19/2018 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 95 Points
Enjoyed with PBH at Keens, classic NY chophouse, to accompany luscious porterhouse steak. This wine was perfect for the occasion -- suave, sophisticated, succulent, mature, and memorable. A masterwork from Margaux.
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12/15/2018 - John McCabe wrote: 96 Points
My last one, alas. This hits it out of the park. The fruit is so opulent and beautiful, this feels surprisingly like a classy Napa cab in many ways, but then there is that slight minerality and earthiness on the finish that says Bordeaux. This is impossible not to love, the best vintage of d’Issan surely, though I’ve high hopes for the recent ‘15 and ‘16.
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12/10/2018 - drjb Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a beautiful wine with the classical Margaux features pushing our scores up as this is our favourite style of Bordeaux. The colour is deep crimson purple with a soaring nose of blackcurrant, blackberries, violets, cedar and dark chocolate. The palate is rich and intense with layers of dark fruit flavours, tobacco, chocolate violets, liquorice leading into a fine line of persistent tannins of great subtlety. This is a wine that will give great pleasure over many years and which shows again the quality of 2005 as a vintage.
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11/25/2018 - HENNO1 wrote: 91 Points
Floral, sweet, Margaux? I’ll confess my least favourite left bank commune. Anyway a lovely wine which has just about entered its drinking window but will be better in time. Lots of fruit but needs to tighten and clean up a bit which I’m confident it will do in time. 91 now but will be a 94 in time. 23 more bottles to go
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10/31/2018 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic nose with Lovely perfumed Cabernet fruit, but also fresh herbs and leather.
On the palate rather rich but not dense. Great fruit, with matchning acidity and tannin. Lasts forever on the palate, awesome stuff!
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10/15/2018 - jbeauprez wrote: 93 Points
served with Cassoulet; really develops with a couple hours of air. Amazing nose; on the palate, graceful, feminine and powerful with a finish that goes on and on. Lovely lovely wine. Certainly plenty of life left but drinking so well now.
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9/2/2018 - Decanthor Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is drinking so well right now. On PnP it was very good, but a little tight. Let the bottle breathe for about 45-60 minutes (I should have decanted for the sediment). When dinner was ready, this was singing. Notes of dark berries, charcoal / charred oak, flowers, and earth. Wonderful mouthfeel. I'm sad I only have one.
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8/13/2018 - bacchusnyon wrote: 91 Points
still some room to develop, but agree with the previous notes - bright, "come hither" very modern style and not at all aggressive on the attack. Awaiting the rest of the case...
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7/2/2018 - foyfrcs Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened up after decanting for a couple of hours.
Enjoyable, full, deep colour, will no doubt improve over the next few years.
Look forward to trying it again in a year or two.
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6/2/2018 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 93 Points
Champagne night Part 2 (The Blanchard, Chicago IL): Brilliant color, bordeaux nose, tons of tannins, pop and pour, the future is bright with this wine.
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5/1/2018 - T.E.D. wrote: 92 Points
Agreed with others. Rick and modern, with well integrated layers. Great quality and vintage.
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4/22/2018 - J_Smallwood Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wow! Every single bottle of this I have had over the last few years has just been stunning. This wine is modern in it’s approach (read bold) but also maintains more than enough nuance to keep this from being too ‘international’ in style. Instant recognition of Margaux traits on the nose with violets, dark berries, and tobacco leaf. Wonderful plush mouthfeel (almost like each grape was individually polished) with sweet tannin and a solid core to this wine that suggests it has even more to give down the line. Black raspberries, Madagascar vanilla, black currant, tobacco, espresso, and sandalwood all unfurl on the palate. This really is a wonderful wine full of finesse, and while it’s gone up in price, I still find it fair / slightly cheap to the quality of what’s in the glass...
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4/19/2018 - DaddyNeedsPow Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was a big hit last night. Lots of character on the nose, including some pickle juice, and almost a smoky-meaty character along with its floral, graphite, and cedar notes. More typically Bordeaux in the mouth, and a long finish. Decanted an hour or so and was drinking beautifully young, so I wouldn't be afraid to drink now or hold for another 5 years.
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4/14/2018 - s******n Likes this wine: 92 Points
Direkt vor dem Probieren geöffnet.
- Farbe: Tiefrot. Intensiv. Noch kein Braun.
- Toller Wein. Für mich der Gewinner des Abends. Frucht, integrierte Tannin-Struktur und viel mehr Länge als Comtesse und auch Fleur Cardinale.
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3/18/2018 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 4 hours. Has evolved into a great wine. However, I sense it might improve. It is deep and dark, as one would expect from a Margaux.
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3/2/2018 - benny wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. A very special wine. Lots of fruit. Rich tannin. Nose of a field of flowers. A long life ahead.
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2/24/2018 - cpr1 wrote:
Bright and elegant, but perhaps lacking in dimension. A pleasant claret likely to keep another ten or so years but unikely to improve significantly.
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2/22/2018 - belfast taxman wrote: 88 Points
I am beginning to think I have acquired something of a dull batch of this wine (bought from Tesco Fine wines about five years ago) because I am simply not seeing or tasting the joyous wine that others have lavished praise upon. my latest bottle had distinctive graphite, cedar and lead pencil notes (usually features I would associate with Graves or Pessac-Leognan) but lacked fruit so became more of a meaty wine than I expect from Margaux. my marking reflects a good wine but I had hoped for a lot more.
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2/10/2018 - Mjladha Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful again! What a beautiful nose. Underrated bottle.
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2/1/2018 - mayfield wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 3 hours, this was really wonderful. It was very Margaux in character, with that dark berry perfume you get from the best examples of the appelation, and great length. This will be a great wine for another 10-15 years, I believe. Marvelous.
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1/20/2018 - Mjladha Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful! Beautiful nose. Just got better and better.
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1/20/2018 - Deputy wrote: 81 Points
Guests loved it. I thought it was fine but a bit flat.
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1/10/2018 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
My 2nd last of these beauties. I'm very familiar with this producer and have had a lot of vintages including '06, '00, '86, '12 and '10 at least. This is surely the best vintage from the ones I've tried. It oozes class with delicate fruit, some earthiness and acidity. Everything is in the right place and it's singing like a bird just now. This one was slightly more earthy than I remember, though still beautiful and composed. I think this is in drink-now phase. Not sure I'd see any advantage to waiting longer. This has become really pricey now at typically over $100. It may be worth it, though consider the '06 or '12 too. The '06 is similar to the '05 but just a little less of everything - it used to be outclassed by the '05 but has gotten closer in quality in the last year or two. The '12 was a bargain when I got it at about $45 but price has gone up a lot since - it's probably the very best Bordeaux of the '12 vintage that I've had - it seriously delivers.
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1/1/2018 - rottcodd wrote: 92 Points
New Year's Eve celebration. Good fruit and balance. Tannins mostly resolved. Entering its drinking window.
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12/28/2017 - Alisonprice Likes this wine: 89 Points
A - clear, deep ruby
N - pronounced nose. clean, black current, baked black fruits, ripe cherry, tobacco, cedar, smoke, cigar box
P - full bodied, fruits as above, high, fine tannins - wonderful extraction, high acid,
F - long, complex finish
Outstanding: very elegant, classy wine with a punch
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12/9/2017 - brh_wine Likes this wine: 97 Points
color deep purple ink extract. nose some fragrance developing but still a bit closed for this quality wine. in sides of mouth pronounced tannin. some complexity developing but still incredibly young for 12 years old. will develop very well over many years.
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12/6/2017 - DrinkEverything702 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Killer. Drinking well now. Definitely decant and either drink slow or let sit. Really well rounded with a lot of depth. Chocolate and espresso by the end are brilliant. 10 more years will definitely benefit it, but still showing really well now with air.
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11/21/2017 - Dale M wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 3hrs, I think it really needed more. The score is primarily due to the nose, which was just lovely, great Margaux perfume, enchanting. The palate was no slouch, displayed good elegance and charm, perhaps a touch of new wood, but I can see where this is going and I like the direction. Hold.
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11/18/2017 - JJYoyo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still pulling itself together -- needs to stay buried in the vaults for a few more years. Strong mix of red currants, anise, peat and even a little whiff of manure on the nose. Bright on the palate with zingy strawberry, some burnt spices, licorice. Astringent in the middle. Lots of tannins but a lot of fruit to match. Could be something very special in another 5-10 years.
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7/28/2017 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely Margaux, perfumed, elegant and finesse, just about ready to drink but will improve with age
93
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7/14/2017 - DrZett wrote: 90 Points
Still very young and a lot of power, needs more time. A good, typical Margaux in my opinion but nothing special. Keep it or give it some air if you open it now.
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6/26/2017 - Chimer Likes this wine: 93 Points
A classic d'Issan for me. Good depth of colour, pretty, ripe fruit on the nose and a lovely texture that caresses the palate. This is understated and has charm, although I suspect that more recent vintages have added intensity and finesse. Lovely to drink now but no rush.
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6/9/2017 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. Needs a few more years, but quite pretty. 13.5%
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5/1/2017 - wineamateur Likes this wine:
Textbook Margaux aromatic profile. Still quite bold and brash, but so seductive. Really very very good now but will probably gain further complexity with more age
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4/23/2017 - Donjcorleone Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 2 hours and the nose changed dramatically within this span from a floral and Margaux berry driven nose to a darker blackberry, cedar and tobacco nose that lead way towards a silky, full bodied palate that echoed similar flavors along with a floral note that lingered ever so pleasantly on the long finish.
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4/17/2017 - burgund Likes this wine: 90 Points
At peak now, not very long or complex compared to earlier bottles. Notes quite similar to earlier
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2/4/2017 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 94 Points
A wide variety at LWS (Gruaud, D'Issan, Rinaldi +++) (Colonial Beverage, Chesterland Ohio): Pop and pour, this needs some air or time, but I think it is drinking a bit better than many 05's at this point. Purple in color. The nose is quite pretty with cassis, Chambourd, spice and slight toast. On the palate, there are firm tannins, but tons of fruit. Cassis and dark cherries. Spice. Lovely texture. Long finish. I would probably still hold these but a few hour decant and it would be great. A nice treat.
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11/6/2016 - belfast taxman wrote: 89 Points
Has improved with a couple more years of bottle age but I still struggle with the rave reviews. Nicely balanced but no great length on the finish. There was a very heavy sediment as well as a stained inside of the bottle . Possibly I have acquired a half case that has suffered from previous poor storage
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10/22/2016 - waibeans Likes this wine: 92 Points
Elegant w finesse. Dark fruit not quite at it's prime but u can tell the bones are there. Will b great in a couple more years.
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7/28/2016 - EirikM wrote: 88 Points
I suppose my preferences have changed a bit over the past couple of years, but today I find this boring and overdone. Too sweet, too much chocolate and too little freshness. Just not my style.
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7/16/2016 - Mdinh Likes this wine:
.5 hour decant. Dark fruit, cocoa, cedar. Fine tannins, but not well integrated yet. Has great potential, but needs more time in the cellar. Started to open up at the end of the night (after 3 hours). Need to buy another few bottles and hold for at least 5 years.
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7/2/2016 - rttpv wrote: 89 Points
ouvert, tabac café, liège (qualité, pas bouchon), bonne structure
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3/4/2016 - partylikeakennedy wrote: 93 Points
FANTASTIC. We got this as part of an auction lot - we were actually more interested in the '05 Duhart-Milon and this was just a hanger-on in a lot of 3. Now it's ranking higher in price and point scores than the DM! Well shit. It's excellent. Perfect balance of tannin and flavor. Dust, mahogany, cinnamon, cocoa. And the nose...I want to snort this all day long. Rich and satisfying. Gah.
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2/13/2016 - psi wrote: 93 Points
Nice and almost smooth experience. Cassis, blackberry, rich and pure. Sweet tannins. Great now, but will of course last...
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11/26/2015 - zoom34 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent - even if too young.
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11/1/2015 - Grinner wrote: 93 Points
19th Annual Lyon 10 Year Retrospective (Chez Lyon in Eugene, OR): Very similar to my 2/15 note. This time I picked up some blueberry in addition to the cassis, cocoa, and earth notes. Despite the 20 hour decant, the tannins are still in need of fatty meat, a long decant, or another decade! 93 on day 2.
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11/1/2015 - Vini Ciclismo Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep purple.
Ripe plums and blackberries. Nice cedar notes.
Soft medium, relatively delicate. Very smooth silky palate, finishes with fine but very furry tannins. Flavours are somewhat muted, not especially expressive.
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10/27/2015 - gsquireh Likes this wine: 96 Points
Can you believe, getting better? Decant for an hour or less, and drink a marvelous Margaux bought in 2006 for $49.00! Gone is the forest floor and replaced by a spring and then summer garden. The cassis, blackberry, dewberry, and black currant are one, all balanced for a singular impression, a super smooth mouth feel. Elegant and delicious, the dark purple, concentrated tannins have gone to heaven, rich and textured, licorice, rose and hibiscus, sweet dark chocolate and clove, the beauty drinks like a first growth. Transporting to wine wonder.
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9/5/2015 - Collector1855 wrote: 95 Points
During a CdB wine tasting dinner with Chateau d'Issan Managing Director Emmanuel Cruse. Great showing, consistent to my previous note. The public's favorite of the 85-95-05 trilogy.
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7/12/2015 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
I bought this wine because Jean-Marc Quarin, Bordeaux based French wine journalist gave it an unusually high note en primeur. Parker also eluded to good quality with 92-94 Pt. and recently, in his 2005 retrospective, upgraded it to even 96 Pt. Today this wine is a reminder of the fact that there is grand Bordeaux below 100 USD the bottle if you are willing to dismiss the urge to be a "Channel/Hermes label drinker".
Tasting note: Medium-dark garnet. Discrete nose of red and dark fruit, chocolate, cinnamon, flowers. On the palate medium bodied, striking elegance with very finely textured tannins and freshness (elegance and freshness is one of the hallmarks of 2005). A Ballerina! This is at the beginning of the drinking window only. Decant for 1h if you open it now. 94-95
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7/1/2015 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
As always, this wine never disappoints. Earthy tobacco, chocolate, coffee, toffee and a lovely sweetness to it. Elegance and power. A good buy at the right price, drinking lovely right now though may improve even more with time. 95+pts.
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6/28/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
Starting to show secondary notes of tobacco, thyme, plum, cedar and earth on the nose. This has really filled out and improved over the past decade. There is a beautiful purity to the fruit, silky, soft tannins and a fresh, fruit filled finish that tastes as good as it feels. The wine was made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.
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5/3/2015 - rttpv wrote: 90 Points
Bu jour racine
Robe dense très légèrement troublée
Le nez est très parfumé et difficile à décrire (complexe?) café (Pia - champignon, noix) framboise
Le vin est rond et délicat. Clairement,le passage en carafe et l aération produisent un effet. La finale est très agreable
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5/1/2015 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 93 Points
Color: dark purple
Nose: very feminine, elegant, black fruits, good and will get better
Palate: 2.5 hours decanted, really ripe but balanced, a very good issan, rich, full of body, this will be a great issan in 5-7 years time
Rated: 93+
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4/23/2015 - MEKWINE Likes this wine: 93 Points
Goedhuis tasting at the Saatchi Gallery West London. Sweet ripe fruits, cassis, cigar box, tobacco with a lengthy mineral finish; an excellent showing tonight.
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4/11/2015 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
Lovely chocolate, coffee and blackberry notes opened up after about an hour of decanting.
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2/7/2015 - Grinner wrote: 93 Points
Wine night with Joe and Kyla (Joe's Bar and Grill): Decanted for 6 hours and probably should have been 26. We haven't opened an '05 Bordeaux in 2+ years because of how infantile they've been. But with a big fall '05 tasting coming up it's time to check-in. The nose was reasonably open with cassis, pencil, and cigar box notes. On the palate: big black fruit, wet stone, and mocha also show up. Tannins remain firm but at least it's no longer like stepping into the boxing ring... I'd still wait 2-3 more before trying again (if it weren't for the November Ritual).
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1/12/2015 - STEVEN@WINECELLARCLUB.COM wrote: 94 Points
NOT READY. WAIT UNTIL 2016.
RIPE, DARK COLOR, DEEP BOUQUET OF RIPE FRUIT.
REALLY RICH FOR A MARGAUX
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1/11/2015 - rttpv wrote: 87 Points
robe dense, cerise carmin
souvenir des vins classique (bu à Metz/Lille en 1995...)
Bonne acidité, équilibre, un peu maigre (?), un peu sableux, poussiéreux
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11/1/2014 - EirikM wrote: 91 Points
From a split. Much too young, but popped to get a feel for how the 2005s are doing. The Issan is a big, dense, broadshouldered and concentrated wine with tons of fruit. Showing primarily sweet fruit with a cassis lead, chocolate and tobacco.
A solid frame in terms of acidity and tannin structure confirms the pedigree of the vintage. There are signs of a complexity that will emerge, but at the moment this is still pretty monolithic in my opinion. Wait.
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9/19/2014 - John McCabe wrote: 96 Points
Deeply compelling as always. Lovely coffee and chocolate tones, with a wonderful depth - almost a bass note. We had this after a vertical of Branaire-Ducru ('94, '99, '00, '09, '11) at K&L dinner in the city, and this d'Issan was far superior to all of the Branaire-Ducru - wasn't even close, to my palate. This vintage of d'Issan is always one of my favorites.
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8/16/2014 - mike410 wrote: 93 Points
Beautifully balanced wine which is drinking great right now. Blackberry's are in the back of the palate. Plum, and hint of Vanilla. Better with food.
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6/28/2014 - Whinojb wrote: 93 Points
Lovely- dark fruit with an earthy smell- yet delicate and soft n
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6/26/2014 - pclin wrote: 93 Points
Good nose, aromatic and clean. Sweet and smooth on entry, dry mid-palate, and slight warmth at finish. Big and complex wine with decent balance, but still not ready yet. May need another 5 years, it seems to mature very slowly versus last bottle tasted 2 years ago. Keep some for later on, not ready yet even on the 3rd day, this will be a long distance runner.
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5/19/2014 - d'Artagnan wrote: 92 Points
Un vin mur et équilibré, fougueux mais bien dompté par un élevage judicieux, il montre une réelle finesse de tanins et un potentiel évident. 92+ pts
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5/13/2014 - John McCabe wrote: 96 Points
Such a treat as always, but this one was a step up from the last bottle. This has taken on more weight and concentration. It's pretty amazing - soo expresive and decadent, structured but yielding too. Earthy to begin with, and then it turns creamy and lush. I had the '09 Malescot St. Supery recently - another Margaux, which I love. This impressed more though. 96+pts. One would be very hard pressed to find Bordeaux showing better than this now for <$90. If there is such a bottle, do pray tell.
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4/25/2014 - Fantomas wrote: 89 Points
Very dark purple colour. Powerful, jammy nose of ripe strawberries, dark cherries and some smoke. On the palate rather spicy and a bit bitter. Cherries, white pepper, and vanilla with some hints of cedar. The tannins have smoothened yet there is a lack of complexity and an overly spicy and firm after-palate. Medium length which pleasantly finishes on long cherry notes.
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4/9/2014 - macker100 wrote: 94 Points
Very intense nose of dark strawberries, smoke. caramel. Silky tannins with deep rich cherries, tobacco, earth. Still a tad dry on elongated finish. One of the better '05s to date, and much better than any other d"Issan I have had previously. Can easily see the score jump a few points as time progresses.
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3/13/2014 - jperez68 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very earthy not lots of fruit dry finnish,may need more aging . I do not think it will get better from age since the nose is not very complex.
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3/12/2014 - yofog wrote: 92 Points
A bit more powerful and oaky than I like, but this is focused and classy and may gain in finesse by the time it's in its prime. Great classic plum and cherry, spicy profile.
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1/20/2014 - belfast taxman wrote: 88 Points
God knows I was looking forward to it - all those rave reviews here on CT - and when first decanted the signs were excellent - nice dark colur with shine and legs on the glass and an intense nose of all manner of complexity but traditional cassis. cigar box, violets and lead pencil. I waited with bated breath and served the best steak with it about an hour later and .... a bit ordinary really - a little too soft and and did not deliver on the palate or the finish in the way I had expected - a decent Claret but I hope, at the price, this was an off bottle - loses a mark for poor QPR
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1/1/2014 - thi nguyen Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smoke cigar earthy nice finish long and linger .my second pick of the night
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12/29/2013 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
Still showing so well but it feels like it might be closing down a bit.
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12/28/2013 - gsquireh Likes this wine: 95 Points
Mammoth and majestic this wine has many years of glory. Chocolate, expresso, licorice, crushed roses, and black fruit along with the balance and richness make this a drink now or hold for more wine. Your choice and a great one.
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12/3/2013 - burgund Likes this wine: 92 Points
Unusual barnyard and wet forrest notes for a Margaux and in all 4 bottles consumed. Currant and blackberry dominate the taste with silky tannins. Chocolate and very good balance to the elegant side. After some time the tannins becomes more profound and the wine close down on nose and taste. Still in need for 2 years more before next bottle. Unusual style but still a good glas.
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11/25/2013 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
Lovely as always, really nice expresso, dark chocolate and leather tones. Feels like it may be at its peak now, strangely.
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11/23/2013 - alion wrote: 92 Points
Not concentrated but beautifully balanced. Blackcurrant, farmyard esp. on opening, some plum. Finishes longer than expected. Not closed - but natural cellar may mean more advanced than for others. Most approachable of recent 2005s.
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10/29/2013 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
This was lovely as usual, but slightly more austere than usual with a slight green pepper note that I didn't notice before. Still one of my favorite Bordeaux at this pricepoint. Showing well now - am not sure it needs any more time in bottle; my Bordeaux-loving friend who I drank this with thought that it may not benefit from any more time in bottle.
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8/31/2013 - Andre Brattland Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a elegant full bodied wine. With aromas of blackberries, caramel, and licorice. The length is wonderful, never stops. It quite oaky, with touch of chocolate, blackberries and pepper. Surprisingly mature now with soft tannins, would of course develop a lot over the next years. And im sure it`s a 95 pointer when we arrive 2018.
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8/11/2013 - burgund Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still on the yong side, delicate and elegance behind the tannins. Very good balanced.
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7/23/2013 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
Similar to previous impressions - one of my favorites. I picked up some lovely toffee and caramel notes this time, supplemental to my previous impressions of this wine.
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6/29/2013 - Exered68 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Couldn't resist as post-birthday treat to self, served with rump steak in peppercorn sauce, sauté tatties, mushrooms and hard little tomatoes.
Not quite as heavenly bouquet in the decanter as remembered though still enticing. Beguiling balance, leather, tobacco, ripe dark fruit as before and not too boozy either.
Silky satisfaction really arrived while rationing last half bottle with cheeses over an hour. In all an elegant solo evening.
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6/22/2013 - Old Claret wrote:
Needs more time.
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5/21/2013 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
So subtle, elegant and yet quite solid and well structured. Notes of charcoal snd camphor abound, with a slight sweetness. One of my favorites.
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4/18/2013 - gsquireh Likes this wine: 95 Points
A rich royal purple full-bodied liquid oozes from the decantor (decant an hour) and the cassis and blackberry and forest floor waft from the gloss to nose. This wine is balanced and smooth and drinks like silk. Rose and tulips and sweet fruit and tannin are perfectly balanced in this textured beauty.
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3/10/2013 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
This one was a bit more wet earth than some others I've had, but still had most of the hallmarks of what makes this wine so special for me. I love the finesse, elegance and deftness of this wine.
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3/2/2013 - slippytoad Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very ready, lush, cocoa, rounded out mouth feel. Not a whole lot of fruit, quite dark. Just very pleasant.
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1/31/2013 - Wine Sparty wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for a couple hours, then drank over the course of the next 3 hours. Aroma is leather, dark fruit and tar...had a very tight aroma. Taste definitely had quite a bit of tannin at first, and still had a decent amount near the end, but it wasn't terrible. Taste is plum and coffee primarily. Decent level of acidity. This is obviously still too young, but better than I had expected and gets me intrigued for my other bottle's future. Definitely see potential for this score to go higher.
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1/26/2013 - RS60 wrote: 90 Points
The 2005 d'Issan is very early in it's drinkability window. Very reserved on its approach on the palette. Notes of coffee and deep chocolate. I am looking forward to tasting this as it ages over the next 20 years.
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12/25/2012 - SoundinBetween wrote: 90 Points
Good but *very* restrained. Decanted 2.5 hours. Very good nose with coffee notes, and very smooth if light on the palette. Will be interesting to see where this goes.
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12/15/2012 - Fantomas Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich nose of forest fruit on damp forest soil, hints of vanilla. Nice fruitiness, fat legs, chewy with tannins yet smoothness and beautiful length.
Pleasant on the palate and after-palate and big enough to be enjoyed on its own or with red meat and venison.
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11/9/2012 - Fantomas Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very beautiful wine. Full and complete nose of tobacco, coffee, forest fruit. Silky smooth attack - the rich tannins require a while to level-off - with powerful palate of dark fruit, jam, toasted coffee and tobacco notes, some subtle vanilla and white pepper. Beautiful length and full bodied. Will smoothen further within the next 5 years.
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10/21/2012 - John McCabe wrote: 96 Points
Concentrated, a lot of coffee and chocolate notes, so seamless and balanced. They really did a great job with this. One of my very favorite '05s, and drinking well now, but will gain even more complexity with time. My friend and I shared a bottle of the '06 at the same time. The '06 is clearly cut from the same cloth and is a lovely wine in its own right, but is clearly less concentrated (the wine even looks so much less concentrated) and has a bit of forest floor notes and one or two edges here and there. The '05 by comparison is just so much smoother and complex.
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10/7/2012 - Exered68 wrote: 95 Points
My best purchasing decision yet especially with the 25% Tesco online first timer discount (just use a different email address to grab this yourselves).
Decanted for 90 mins and paired with veal in breadcrumbs, saute potatoes and salad - later mix of SW cheeses and Normandie brie.
Enchanting Proustian smells including leather, tobacco - sent me back to step-father's Opel Manta circa 1977. Slight upfront tannin but soon went and then two hours of sublimes 'ums' and 'aahs'. Another seven bottles to spread across two decades of daydreams.
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10/3/2012 - pclin wrote: 95 Points
Good nose. Notes of forest floor, mint, blackberry, dark cherry with toasty oak. Medium-bodied with sweet and sour tannins. Slightly dry aftertaste and long finish. Lower viscosity but higher acidity and more prominent tannins than 2006 vintage, seems to be more "lively" compares with 2006 vintage. Label indicated 13.5% alcohol with no heat. Good balance. It is drinkable now but still not ready for prime consumption yet, may take another 5 years to resolve the tannins nicely. Good QPR for Bordeaux 2005 vintage. On 2nd day, great nose, aromatic, clean and focus. Slightly softer tannins with plenty of fruits. Maintains very good balance. This is delicious, need to upgrade the score. 94-96 pts.
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9/2/2012 - IWineAlot wrote: 94 Points
PNP. Nice deep purple colored wine. Upon opening the wine was very aromatic. Lovely plum, raspberry and earth scents on the nose. Some of the same notes as on the nose along with mint, milk chocolate and some great spice component. Nice and fresh. Smooth round tannins great balance between fruit and acidity. I can see this drinking extremely well with another five years of age on it and last for another two decades.
SS 94pts.
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7/17/2012 - BillyT wrote: 93 Points
Somewhat dark purple center to a translucent purple rim with nice medium legs. Nose of typical Margaux with rasberry, blackberry notes, mint and menthol, mocha and dark chocolate, tobacco, truffle, mushroom, forest floor. Dark fruit on the palate with spice, tobacco, vanilla cream, balanced fruit with nice acidity and well integrated tannins expressive of great aging potential with a reasonably dry chalky finish. Agree with Jeff Leve, and *vine*.
1 hour later, exquisite and worthy of more score. Exceptional chocoalte, tobacco, smooth tannins, I only wish I had lamb or steak sitting in front of me.
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5/2/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
From 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, the wine was aged in 55% new oak. Still deep in color, the wine opens with floral, black cherry, forest floor, cassis, tobacco and spicy aromas. With supple, refined textures, concentration of fruit and a long, elegant, blackberry finish, this continues to develop perfectly. Give it a few more years and enjoy it over the next 15-25 years. 2005 Chateau d’Issan remains well priced for consumers looking for value and quality in Bordeaux.
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4/2/2012 - jmccready wrote: 95 Points
Very dark opaque purple color, tight nose of plums and dark berry fruits. The taste has about all you can pack into a fine Margaux-a real iron fist in a velvet glove. Most all of the
adjectives recorded by other tasters on this site can be found in this layered wine. It is 60% Cabernet and 40% Merlot and its balance makes it a wine whose maturity should
be measured in decades and not years. If there are any bottles around in 15 or 20 years then I hope I am here to try one. A seamless classic!
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12/25/2011 - JustDrinkIt wrote: 92 Points
Popped corked for 8hrs before consumption
Muted nose predominantly of cassis. Palate dominated by primary black fruit elements presented in a restrained elegant style. Very sumptuous and balanced and all the elements are there for a great wine down the road.
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10/18/2011 - raginbajan wrote: 96 Points
Consumed at my brother's birthday celebration at Del Frisco's. Great stuff! Wonderful on its own and with my steak meal.
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10/8/2011 - raginbajan wrote:
Brought to a tasting. I think this wine maybe shutting down. I will revisit in a few years.
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8/26/2011 - raginbajan wrote: 96 Points
I love this wine! Impeccable balance, great fruit and wonderful aromatics. Not sure if this wine will shut down, but it is drinking extremely well right now.
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8/19/2011 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
What a beautiful wine. Still holding up just as good the following day after vacume seal. I'd describe this wine as restrained exuberance. It's quite rich and decadent but at the same time holds back. This is why I love Bordeaux. This one is pretty pricey, setting me back $75 plus tax, but I feel it's worth the price of admission and am tempted to get more. I've recently had some lovely '05s like Clerc Milion and Grand Puy Lacoste, which are rated similarly but I don't think they show quite the same balance and finese as this beauty from d'Issan. Lovely.
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8/13/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Deep in color, popped and poured, the wine offered tobacco, earth, cassis, truffle, smoke and cigar box scents. Full bodied, soft textured and round, this young Margaux wines needs another 5-7 years before it begins to strut its stuff.
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6/3/2011 - nfafoglia wrote: 92 Points
Crushed flowers and honey on the nose. Espresso and black fruit. Red candy licorice finish.
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5/8/2011 - *Vine* wrote:
Popped, poured a small sample and aerated for 60 minutes in bottle. Medium-plus, deep red/purple hue. Aromas of black fruits, black cherry,violet, dried tobacco, pencil shavings, and a bit of "funky" earth. Medium-plus body. On the palate, this Margaux shows poise and finesse through moderately expressive flavors of earthy, dark fruits with hints of spice and minerals. Initially easy to drink and nicely balanced, after a few hours it becomes more astringent, with tannins taking over on the moderate-plus close. Still, this is a great bottle of claret and one that should be singing with another 4-6+ years.
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3/11/2011 - Arthur4wine wrote: 93 Points
Blind tasted the Chateau D'Issan against a 2006 Cakebread Cellars. 4 out of 5 of my guests chose the D'Issan. The Cakebread was very drinkable and a lovely wine, but the D'Issan had a complexity that the Cakebread lacked. Both wines held up well to grilled steak. The D'Issan is ready to drink now, but will not doubt improve with age.
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11/7/2010 - fletchmarc Likes this wine: 96 Points
So good now, and a wish to drink in the future.
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8/10/2010 - Mark from Plano wrote: 94 Points
Luxurious Margaux. Very drinkable now, but really a shame to drink this as it clearly has such a great future ahead.
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7/10/2010 - raginbajan wrote: 96 Points
Great Margaux aromatics coupled with dark chocolate and espresso. Extremely well balanced and a great life ahead.
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5/25/2010 - Faryan wrote: 95 Points
2005 Margaux Blind Horizontal (Urbana Restaurant, DC): Tasted single blind in flights of other 05 Margaux. All wines double decanted two hours. Small variance in temperature of service.
Probably my WOTN. Margaux cherry and violet emenating from the glass. It still is compact and heavy but well balanced. With more time in glass, the wine developed some beautiful merlot driven tertiary notes of truffles and kirsch. Really mercurial as it kept changing but was always knit in good balance. I thought it may be the Palmer. 94-97.
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5/20/2010 - UROMD wrote: 88 Points
Drank over two days, nothing special. No where near worth the price.
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4/26/2010 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
connoisseur wines spring european portfolio (Vivere, Chicago IL): nose: well balanced though very tight nose with floral tones, cedar, spice box, dark red fruits and bits of berries. Good depth with some real class to the nose
taste: big and very chewy tannins that certainly show off the youth of the wine with a real good medium body feel to it. Balanced tones of cedar, kirsch, spice box, and dark red fruits
overall: As with all early notes of 05 bordeauxs, this is a real young wine. It's wound pretty tight right now but is showing classic margaux tones and comes off as a well balanced young bordeaux
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4/12/2010 - chiliman96 wrote: 89 Points
liked the 2003 version better; a bit rough the 2005;
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3/23/2010 - Enfantterrible wrote: 91 Points
Drank over the course of a long evening and several bottles with friends. From hazy memory, much more approachable than the Bahans. Dense and balanced. Excellent.
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3/7/2010 - NO SPIT wrote:
For the first hour or so this wine was earthy and quite delicate. After opening for an hour the nose developed a light tar/asphalt/fuel issue that I actually like along with tobacco and pencil shavings. Mineral and floral notes on the front and mid palate with dark semi sweet fruits. Nice firm tannins finish it off. Beautiful wine, very elegant and well balanced.
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11/28/2009 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
Very impressive. Was impressed with the '06 too, but this is a little more complex and powerful. Chocolate the coffee tones - I'm surprised how drinkable it is now - one of the better '05s I've tried.
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10/19/2009 - Jeff W wrote:
Farr £450 gross
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10/4/2009 - BradE wrote:
Decanted for most of the night, but I actually liked it after an hour of air more than late in the night. A dark fruit profile, lots of tar/ash.
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8/20/2009 - cgrimes wrote: 89 Points
NSMFOW August '09: Sleepers of the 2005 Bordeaux Vintage (The Grapevine, Salem, MA): Dark ruby. Nose of dark fruits, oak. Similar on the palate with tar and huge tannins. Needs extended ageing.
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8/6/2009 - schwavschwa wrote: 90 Points
The smell was very enticing, more floral than we expected. Strong structure, with leather, ripe fruit, and a little gamey. Still a little too acidic.
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5/28/2009 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Deep in color, this structured, traditionally made Margaux opens with earth, cassis, spice, blackberry and floral aromas. Full bodied and loaded with ripe, dark berries, this rich wine will improve for decades.
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4/23/2009 - Pknut wrote:
With the Attorney-Oenophiles. My first 2005 Bordeaux sample. Dark and deep and dense. Shows primary fruit and oak. Good potential, but needs many, many, many years.
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4/2/2009 - JAR wrote: 95 Points
It should be noted that I decanted this bottle for about five hours and drank it over a two day period.
I was pleasantly surprised that even at this young age, this wine has no noticeable hard edges. I am glad that this wine is only aged on 50% new barriques, as this clearly prevents the oak from overwhelming all other components (specially its delicious black fruit). It exhibits well rounded tannings and lively acidity. Overall, this 2005 d'Issan displayed a voluptous mouth-fill that I really enjoyed.
Based on this wine balance and impressive length (i.e. 1+ minute), I have no doubt of the staying power of this wine. It definitely will not surprise me if I ever rate this wine higher.
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12/13/2008 - Badfish wrote: 95 Points
Linking With Bordeaux (Wine Exchange - Orange, CA): Dark red purple core with a radiant purple rim. Gorgeous and already complex, the bouquet on this wine yields flowers, wet earth, blackberry, and cassis. The superb fruit flavors of currant, dark berries, and minerals combine with tremendous contrast of power and elegance on the palate. Structured, complex, and balanced. This is the second time I have tasted this wine and it has been profound both times. Some of the other wines I have given high scores to from this vintage may not be liked by all but this one should offer something for everyone at maturity; it is that good. 95+
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12/2/2008 - MRichman wrote:
2005 Horizontal (North Square, NYC): Espresso. Very dark and almost syrupy. Clear and clean, muscular and smooth.
B++
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12/2/2008 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 86 Points
2005 Bordeaux Test Drive (North Square): Amazingly consistent with my August 20th note.
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8/20/2008 - Keith Levenberg wrote:
I was surprised to see this still on shelves for $65 after its 95-point Parker rating. If it disappears over the next few months, it'll be because of that rating, not because it tastes particularly impressive now. It's a very backwards, rugged wine, with sandbags of dry tannin and cranberryish fruit slapped with just enough oak toast to give it a blacker tinge and a scorched asphalt character. It's mostly mute on the nose with just a little wooliness and none of the classic Margaux perfume. It ought to age just fine since there's no shortage of structure, but I don't understand deriving much pleasure from it today regardless of where your tastes lie, as it has neither the inky concentration and fruit-gobs that the Parker points tend to connote, nor the perfume and elegance of old-school Margaux. Hopefully the latter will come out with age, and indeed the leftovers the next day are much more supple and inviting.
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6/20/2008 - EMichels wrote: 90 Points
Red Carpet Tasting: Relatively lacking nose; Slightly dusty; Slightly chocolately
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6/20/2008 - rloomis wrote: 86 Points
rich purple color, mocha-coffee oak (subsiding after time in decanter), red fruits w/ merlot character, apple blossom, sour plum. Firm, woody tannins. Given a little more time in the cellar, and a little more time to breathe before drinking may show bettter.
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6/14/2008 - Motronic wrote: 92 Points
Bottle was open but not decanted for 2hrs. before tasting. Initially shy and un-forthcoming aromatically, approx. 4-5hrs. after the bottle was opened it started to sing. Elegant bouquet of Margaux elegance, purple flower, hint of anise, fine-grained cedar, whiff of smokiness, lovely! Tannin and structure are obviouly firm, but not coarse at all. Still somewhat primary at this stage. Excellent concentration of fruit, no obvious acidity. Will be beautiful with a few years of bottle age, however, cannot agree with RP95 at this point in time.
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5/23/2008 - winefool wrote:
Casual Friday Night Steaks (Home): Decanted for 3-4 hours. Full purple color. Big clean black fruit nose with classic cedar notes. Big bold black fruit with coffee and black spice on the palate. Still quite tight and young, but good stuffing here.
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5/17/2008 - Badfish wrote: 96 Points
Decanted for 6 hours. Day 1: Brilliant dark raspberry purple to the rim with medium legs in the glass. An intoxicating bouquet of crème de cassis, wild berries, flowers, chocolate, creosote, and explosive minerality. Like walking along a forest creek surrounded by wild flowers. The palate initially shows a sweet sensation that quickly melds with the acidity for a beautiful texture. This is superbly seductive in a supple fruit driven style with complex notes of boysenberry, cherry, and minerals. Tremendous balance, elegance, freshness, ultra fine sweet tannins, and a super long finish. While this has great concentration the balance is so superb you can't really perceive the individual components even at this young age. For me this is quickly becoming the trademark of the 2005 vintage. Recorked with 1/3 bottle overnight. Day 2: Darker opaque red purple to the rim today. The nose seems darker and more brooding with gobs of berries, stones, floral perfume, and toast. The palate is more mineral driven, tannic, full-bodied, and structured today but the gorgeous crème de cassis and cherry notes are still there. This wine seemed to be showing more baby fat yesterday and after being opened for 30+ hours more of its ample aging structure. I really liked this for its complexity, elegance, and balance, each of which it has slightly more of than the stunning Lascombes I have previously tasted.
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5/10/2008 - cab blends wrote: 93 Points
AHA Hearts Delight - Bordeaux 2005 Wine Tasting: Clinical
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5/8/2008 - the drops of god wrote: 92 Points
This one hit the spot for me. Definately a super margaux. Beautiful nose of fresh sweet red fruit, flowers, polished tannins, littel dense, medium to long finish. Its very nice.
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2/23/2008 - duchamp wrote: 93 Points
Deep, deep red, beautiful bouquet of ripe red fruit, cassis, saddle leather, tobacco and tea leaves, sweet soft palate in perfect harmony with the nose, medium spicy finish, very elegant Margaux
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2/22/2008 - EMichels wrote: 92 Points
Red Carpet Wine Tasting: Medium dark nose; Great interest; Good body
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12/9/2007 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Very complex wine. Very much finesse as well. This is a textbook elegant Margaux. Although young, the tannin is very soft. Now, so young already so attractive, but the wine will be definitely be a beauty in 10 years from now as well.
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