13% Blackcurrant and black plum fruit, some graphite, plenty of forest floor, damp smoke. Rustic, some savoury notes, and there is some raisining of the fruit flavours, but still enough primary to balance the tertiaries. Not quite fresh enough for 90 points. Won’t improve, but clearly not falling off a cliff. Bottle from case bought en primeur.
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Dark berries, some pleasant oak and rustic flavors in the bouquet. Same on the palate, some graphite, dark chocolate and licorice. Firm and good acidity and tannin. Tasty and full bodied. Beautiful and textbook Haut Medoc with still a great promise for the future. Young maturity stage now.
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Garnet with slight orange hue in thin layers. Bramble, black currants, tobacco, decaying wet leaves, terpenoid pine or so notes, pencil shavings. On the palate in addition forest floor, round but still present tannins and excellent length ending on this interesting terpenoid note and black fruit. This bottle is from a warmer than textbook cellar reaching 18°-19° C in summer and with 15°C in winter. This in mind it is a bit of a surprise to me, how well this ages, not a bit tired, but full of energy. Though there is a lot of sediment in the bottle, my advice is not to decant it. Just stand it upright for some hours or if you insist to make a decant for cosmetic reasons, don't give it more airtime, but serve it directly after the decant. 5/12/17/9. Still in its optimal drinking window for sure from my cellar. -2030+, Excellent to outstanding.
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Wonderful nose at the start, decanted for 1 hour and was slightly fading towards the end. Just lacking in fruit & slightly drying on the finish. Drink up
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Very dark in color still. Fully mature and with a lovely creamy cassis bouquet, resolved tannins and good acidity. This is drinking beautifully now and will hold for a few more years undoubtedly. Great value for money,
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Soft, slightly creamy, blackcurrant fruit, ripe and fairly full; fully mature or perhaps a little past its peak, as it fades a little at the end and finishes a bit short. Still good, but previous bottles were better.
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Top Füllstand. Schien mir am ersten Abend recht weit entwickelt. Am zweiten Abend dann allerdingsganz wunderbar. Dunkle Frucht, beinahe Schokolade, Würze. Voll auf dem Höhepunkt. Wird sich nicht weiter verbessern aber vermutlich bis 2024 auf einem super Level trinken lassen. 90-92 Punkte? 2009-2025
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Auch wenn ich weiterhin derjenige bin, der dem Wein die höchsten Noten gibt, ich bleibe dabei: absolut super PL, schön zu trinken...habe einen Drittel über 48 Stunden in der Karaffe vergessen...war selbst dann noch mega fein und nur wenige Zeichen von Altersmüdigkeit...der hält noch lange.
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Ruby with maybe a little of orange reflexes to the rim. From the partly emptied bottle on day two it showed more cedar and roasty notes beside the fruity notes of black currants and blackberries and cherries. On day one without decant it showed brighter fruit. This has the potential of aging for another decade if perfectly stored since release. Nevertheless it has entered its plateau of maturity and is not likely to improve with further aging, but to change its character. Some smooth tannin left to be shed. -2029, 5/11/16/9
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Pop this bottle to pair pasta with a red vegetable sauce and meat, good smell in the glass, black tasty fruit, some licorice, minerals smoke, on the palate some grainy tannin, still demanding, no way ready to enjoy, waited an hour more with slow ox, comes more together now, not really balanced, still at the beginning of its drinking window, rough, quite deep, very tight, good long convincing finish, bottles from well stored cellars need some 3-5 years more, **(+- +?), around 90(+)
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Nose of black berry, black currants, cigar box, cedar, and forest floor with a hint of barnyard, on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, at peak, showing well tonight, mouth filling fruit, elegant, old style Bordeaux, having enjoyed several vintages of this wine, I think it is a value buy for me and always pro ides enjoyment, especially in a great vintage, lovely, long finish.
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30 € plus Versandkosten für zwei Flaschen bezahlt. 15 € pro Flasche. Guter Weinwert. Guter Naturkorken. Erst zu 5-10% durchtränkt. 13 % Vol. Jugendlich frisch, tolle interessante, sexy Nase. 50/50 Blau und rotbeerig. Für fast 15 Jahre beinahe jugendlich wirkend. am zweiten Abend dann die verbliebenen 450 ml probiert. Ein Schmeichler, man merkt den Merlot. Gut, jedoch deutlich gereifter, kein Vakuum. rotberiger. Mehr Teoerroir Würze, weniger rotbeerig, weniger Frucht, mehr Würze. 90-91 Punkte. Toller Wein. Jetzt am Beginn des Höhepunktes bis 2025+
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Last bottle. 2005 Château Charmail. Purchased in 2008 for $22 in sale. Mid-dark garnet, brick/amber edges; cocoa, cassis, cedar and tobacco nose; mid-body; balanced; decent fruit still; long round finish (Merlot), hints of tanning (Cabernet). 16 UC Davis scale, 90 other scales. w/grilled beef.
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Nose of black berry, black cherry, and black currants, same on the palate, medium/big body, in a great vintage this was a bargain at $21 a bottle, wish I owned more, tasty, rich fruit, almost mouth filling fruit, at peak but easily last another 10 years, a modern Bordeaux to enjoy, time to search the internet for more, and a long finish.
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A dark colour; quite dense, slightly sweet blackcurrant fruit showing some elegance. Very good for a cru bourgeois. Drinking well now, but can be kept.
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Beautiful bouquet with dark berries, vanilla and other sweet spices. Same on the palate, licorice, good acidity and some bitterness in the finish. Maturity stage, but no hurry at all. Will still be fine in 2023 I suppose.
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Bought a box of 6b for $125 from a broker about 9 years ago so about 21/b; this is #3 (also bought 3 mags for 45/mag). Decanted with normal sediment for its age. Dark ruby; subdued fruit nose, bit of funk, with thin redcurrant palate--BUT the fruit emerged after about 2 hours, and this improved considerably. Not complex, but a solid everyday Bdx after some exposure to air. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: For me, scores on a "100-point scale" are misleading. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. This is notable when considering quality, age, and price.
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Nose of black berry, black cherry, and black currants, same on the palate, medium/big body, in a great vintage this is a real easy Bordeaux experience, great QPR at $23.95, tasty, rich fruit, almost mouth filling fruit, and a long finish. Uploaded photo.
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Nose of black berry, black cherry, minerals, and black currants, same on the palate, medium/big body, in a great vintage this is a real easy Bordeaux experience, tasty, rich fruit, almost mouth filling fruit, and a long finish.
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1 h in der Karaffe. Schon richtig schön, öffnet sich im Lauf des Abends zusehends. Einerseits leicht und bekömmlich, andererseits doch mit Druck und grosser Aromenvielfalt im Gaumen. Guter Wein aus gutem Jahrgang. Wird vielleicht noch besser...
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Ruby to the rim. From bottle it is first totally closed, but begins to open after decant and, more slowly of course, from the partly emptied bottle within 30-60 minutes. From the start it is much more balanced than the D'Aurilhac, though it still has some tannin that can be shed in the next 10+ years. Blackcurrants, cedar, licorice, mulberries and flowers. 5/11/16/9 -2030 in a cool cellar. 90 points from Parker in 2008 and 89 in 2015.
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Nose of cassis, minerals, and black berry, same on the palate, medium/big body, at peak drinking with lovely secondary flavors showing, tasty, rich fruit, almost mouth filling fruit, almost elegant, and a long finish, great QPR at $21!
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Standing for 2 weeks, opened and tasted from bottle. Nice fruit, bit of vanilla, and still decent tannins. About 10 minutes in a bit of funk blew off the bottle, but within 45 minutes it was drinking very nicely. Optimal would seem to be about 90 minutes to hours open at this stage of its life. Well balanced, round mouth feel, not enough complexity in the fruit to be a truly outstanding wine, but this is an beautiful, well balanced wine after 14 years. One note: the wine was clearly not corked, but the cork was on the fragile side. Drink within the next 2 years.
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Tried a 2005 Charmail last night. It was good, still showing some primary grapey flavors, but the texture was open and the tannins fairly resolved. Early maturity for my tastes. It had very good depth, exceptional for an $18 bottle of wine actually, but it didn’t show any overripe or new oak influences that wines in this price range often do. It’s shortcomings are being anodyne and semi-chunky. Still, I’d go 86-87 points on this today, it could go up a point or two if more nuance and interest develop in the cellar.
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Keeps getting better. Secondary development but with a nice core of fruit intact. Lovely minerality, aniseed and subtlety intergrated oak. Just great especially for what it is etc.
Clear and almost 'glowing' with vitality. Clean and powerful. Mature but Not yet fully intergrated with a backbone of tannin still dominating. Not sure this will get any better. Most enjoyable.
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Ruby with minimal lightening at the edge. Blackcurrant, cherries, flowers. Smooth tannin, sweet with a supple texture. This wine is gaining power after decantation. It is fully mature though there is still tannin that maybe shed over the next ten years in a cool cellar. -2025+
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Dark dense plum colour; good lift on nose of blackcurrant, wood and smoke; Ditto flavour. A balanced wine with a good finish, but a little thin and without any real complexity.
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PnP and consumed over 5 hours. Attractive bouquet. Cassis among notes of spicebox, tobacco, black licorice, some earth and garden herbs, and a touch of graphite and coffee. Dry, round and full-bodied with fine gritty tannins that became more prominent as it breathe. Had a good amount of acidity and a lasting finish. This has aged well and should continue to drink well up to another 5-7 years.
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Finally a wine with age from my storage (which doesn't have great conditions) that tasted fresh, youthful and in its prime. Nice left bank Bordeaux flavors of cassis, black fruit, with structure. Nice!
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Weekly tasting group #223; Old World versus New World (@ AH): See also my previous note. Brought a bottle to a tasting and it performed well. Beside the Kanonkop Paul Sauer of the same vintage, this wine was more youthful and powerful. I can add some laurel and salty licorice as well as some toast and bell pepper. A beautiful and classical wine in its young maturity stage. 90 – 91, but 90 for this evening.
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In the bouquet dark forest fruits like blackcurrants, some vanilla, licorice and even a hint of graphite. On the palate all impressions come back. Pleasant acidity and tannin with a good, soft bite. Very harmonious wine. It was best the second day, so there is a future for several years. Have a few more, but I should have bought a few cases. Very good qpr! 89 - 90
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dark garnet. cherry, currant, spicy and earthy. (probably the PV) A liitttle thin on the palate and one dimensional, just short of being clumsy-but enjoyable for a basic cru bourgeois. Dry tannins on the brief finish. This is ready to drink and will not benefit from further aging. 85-88
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Second Sunday Group: 2005 Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Barb's): Aromas of dark fruit and plum with a nice earthy quality. A more rustic wine than the previous two. Nice fruit on the palate, primarily dark. A little thin through the mid-palate and finish.
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nachdem mich die letzte Flasche überhaupt nicht aus dem Sockel gehauen hat kommt er nun sehr gut daher. das dominante Eichenfass tritt dezent in den Hintergrund. schmeckt sicher lecker die nächsten 4-5 Jahre, vielleicht auch länger, bin gespannt.
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Decanted for a half hour and then used a Vinturi to try to soften some more. Needed about an hour before it softened and opened, though still retained some of the hardness I have encountered with many 05 Bordeaux. Very dark color and fruit, medium body and medium minus acidity. Nice wine for the price and would wait a bit longer on these.
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Black core, garnet rim. Subdued, yet sweet bouquet with incipient cedar, purple soda, some Merlot chocolate. The palate is round, full and fleshy without being soulless. Fine acidity and some chewy soft tannins on the finish. Still playing a bit close to the vest and seeming a little stolid, but drinking better now with some air than most 2005 Bordeaux. A mid-modern wine that shows very little oak influence, I liked this and I think it will continue to improve/hold, but be sure to check in again within the next 5 years before it gets too soft and candied. Superb QPR for the $18 it cost on futures.
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Actually, this was really a very pleasant surprise, given its price point. It is right in the drinking window now, with a few minutes open or a quick decant, and rich mouth feel, long finish, and ripe berries, blackcurrant, cherries, with a small dusty note.
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- Brick color and aromas of tobacco and licorice anise with a medium/full body with a medium finish - Dried fruit and black fruit. Merlot coming trhough, nice tannins at the finnish. Full body, depth. Minerality and spices. Totally drinkable, could have waited.
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Definitely in its window. Dark and rich to the eye. Nose of blackberry, plums, earth, tobacco. Smooth, plush, easy drinking on palate. Has shed rough edges and is integrating nicely.
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No formal notes but the wine had decent, if subdued, fruit, strong tannins, a bit hollow in the mid, and a short-to-medium finish. Not a bad wine for $25 but not a screaming value, either.
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Color: clear, trnsparent, medium ruby core, pale purple rim; Nose: Healthy, oak, eucalyptus, perhaps also mint, spice; Taste: High acid, medium plus tannins, medium body, nice sharp, spicy taste; Paired perfectly with grilled leg of lamb, the tannins got smoother after 30 minutes while the acid remained sharp. Excellent wine!
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Solid wine and great value for the money. In a tasting of 3 other cabernets (chile and napa), this was not obvious bordeaux as it was really seamless with no rough edges and good pure fruit and tannins. Drinking well right now.
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Seems to become a good BDX. Everything is on the plate, fruit, tannin and concentration - but actual for me its a mixture with some gaps. Hope there will be more homogeneity in few years. Potential for a rating 90+ could be possible.
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Betörende, fast parfümiert wirkende Nase mit Frucht, reichlich Vanille; leider am Gaumen etwas stumpfe, mittelkörnige Tanninstruktur und leicht "grüner" Unterton, die die hohe Erwartung nach der Duftprobe nicht ganz erfüllen können
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Mid-dark, brick edges; chocolate, wood and berry nose (usually about 50 percent Merlot in the blend); balanced, smooth long finish, round; good food wine.
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Still a little tannic but starting to drink nicely. Plenty of fruit & moderate tannins . Firm structure, and long finish. Wll keep and develop further.
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Mid-dark garnet; mint, berries, earth, Cabernet (35 percent) and Merlot (45%) nose; mid-body; good tannins but starting to soften; long finish. Super vallue from that vintage. w/beef
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This early drinking charming Bordeaux wine offers loads of fresh juicy creme de cassas, licorice, blackberry, black raspberry and earthy aromas. This is soft, round and already accessible. This is a solid Bordeaux value wine.
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Very dark color. The nose ist withdrawn at the moment. Good body, but still tannic and it the future has to show, if the wine becomes better - with more fruit and elegance or if the 2005 Charmail will fall victim of to much structure/tannin/wood and will die as a prisoner.
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Big wine still very young and somewhat gangly-fruit, tannin and oak all still in abundance and yet to fully integrate. That said still very enjoyable and improved alot over a 12 HR period. Well made but needs another 2-5 yrs before drinking again.
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Looking back at my 2 notes from '08 cracks me up because nothing has really changed! This wine is still tight, dense, and hard to fully appreciate yet. Black fruit/cassis w/ hints of cigar/cedar supported mightily by the tannins. A crazy good deal and will reward those with patience and the storage space. Wait 2 more years!
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Plenty of fruit here, still looks immature , full colour good extract. Nose emerging but needs to evolve. Still quite tannic on the palate but plently of ripe fruit to cover. Needs more time, but a really good future , I think. Try 3 -5 yrs ?
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Wow this is good; loads of cassis and vanilla on the nose with licorice and spice in the background; medium-bodied and elegant, with a finish that lasts for nearly thirty seconds. This is a steal for $20/bottle. Very well done.
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Stewed strawberries and pencil. Everything else is hidden behind a wall of tannin. Very dry. Even more shut down on day two. Different from my last experience with this wine.
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Mid-dark garnet; Cabernet dominates the nose; mint, berries; a little terroir but more California-like; mid-body; decent tannins; good flavor; has improved with age since last tasting. w/barbecued tri-tip.
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One of my favorite QPR wines from the Haut Medoc. The 2005 vintage is the best example of this wine I have experienced. Great black and blue fruits, balance and finesse.
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Lot's of vanilla oak initially on the nose which subsides a good deal overnight but doesn't go away and picks up some wood, herbal and cassis notes. The palate doesn't carry the oak in the same heavy way and shows good balancing acidity and a lean mouth feel. This is actually tight on the second night with the tannin beings being a bit green and drying. I don't think this will ever be a classic Bordeaux claret but its not over done like Monbousquet or Pavie Macquin. This needs a few more years to me. Very good value at $27.
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Too soon to judge. A fairly accessible nose of coffee, cocoa shavings, with some plum and cherry on the nose. Similar on the palate albeit w/ greater restraint and a somwhat smokey toasty oak finish with a touch of ash. Still plenty of tannins and grip to be resolved on the lengthy, dry finish. No doubt, this is a nice drinker now, but it has plenty of development ahead.
Hold. 90-92 -JRS
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Tasted over 3 days. Initial impression softness,with elegant and rich Bordeaux fruit. Over the course of several days a richer and more balanced structure emerged with real complexity, suggesting solid potential for aging. This is a good value, and one that I suggest holding for at least a couple of years.
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This wasn't quite as good as the last bottle I had, but I didn't let it sit as long. It's still a steal for good Bordeaux in a great vintage. Again, good smoke, a hint of chocolate, graphite, light plum, and minty.
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A beautiful, high pitched nose of cherry with a hint of steminess. Full in the mouth with lots of ripe, drying tannins and good fruit. This wine was very enjoyable and alive with a good future ahead. The first 2005 Bordeaux I have enjoyed.
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Earthy Bordeaux, nice extraction, not in the same style as was tasted next to our California. More left, will taste again tonight to see how it evolved.
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Decanted and poured thru Vinturi 4 times. Drank over 1 1/2 hours. Nose of flowers and cassis. On the palate smooth and ripe berries. The finish was long with up front tannins and with fresh berries lingering. Very good for the price. Will age for a few years yet.
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Dark, earthy, bordeaux blend. After about an hour or two, it has a smokey, lightly musty nose and dark plum, charcoal pencil, minty tobacco leaf and tounge-gripping tannin. This is a good buy and drinking well young.
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Mid-garnet, brick edges; French terroir nose; mix of Cabernet herbaceousness and Merlot chocolate aroma; light oak; mid-body; decent tannins; needs to open a little; should be fine through 2012 and beyond.
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Hopefully it will settle down, but right now it feels like a tannic fruit bomb. For me, it has too much of everything at this stage of its development, apart from balance and refinement.
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Actually too early to rate for me. Seemed to be a very young wine. I will wait a year before another or open for a day. At the price and RP drink window thought I could enjoy now...wrong! Very tight after 1-2 hours. Tannins heavy on the palate and finish.
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The cork gave the first clue of richness with berries flowing. The nose was really nice, blackberry and vanilla wafting. The wine tasted young, full of rich tanin, but an excellent surprise at this price point. Highly recommended!
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Bordeaux Today (2005s & A Lone 2004) (Wine Exchange - Orange, CA): Deep raspberry core with a light purple rim. The aromas are very attractive with specific notes of currant, boysenberry, and crushed stones. The same attractive fruit character spills over onto the palate giving this wine a charming approachability. There are ample sweet tannins which give this wine solid structure. I also enjoyed the complexity provided by the baking spice finish. A number of quality conscious producers in the Haut-Médoc have offered extremely strong wines in this vintage and for me this is definitely one of them.
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This was a hard one... after first opening, and even after letting it breath for at least an hour it was too acidic to enjoy. Not much nose. Could pick up the tannins, not holding up too well other than lingering a bit on the finish (but not very long). Put a cork in it & let it the counter for 2 days, and it was a completely different wine. Could actually enjoy it and pick out a few more nuance flavors.
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A brute of a bargain Bordeaux. Actually had a slight (and appropriate) nose, unlike some other '05's I've tried. It's all pleasant, tho' tight at this stage. Swirl in the glass for 20 minutes, get carpal tunnel syndrome, and you'll notice the wine picking up the obligatory pencil and cedar w/ trace of tobacco. Deep cassis and fairly huge tannins for a wine of this "pedigree". Makes you wonder why you bought some of these "value" 05's if they're difficult to appreciate young! I don't have the space to age wines I paid < $20 for!
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It took this wine about 2 hours to come around after decanting. Beautiful garnet/purple color, black cherry nose that soften over time. Black fruit continued into the palate, tannins are fine but prominent. Medium finish. I drank from a half bottle to get an early taste of this one. Quite nice. Worth picking up some more and drinking again in 2-5 years. Nothing fancy, but a solid Bordeaux.
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4/10/2024 - WhoNose Likes this wine: 89 Points
13% Blackcurrant and black plum fruit, some graphite, plenty of forest floor, damp smoke. Rustic, some savoury notes, and there is some raisining of the fruit flavours, but still enough primary to balance the tertiaries. Not quite fresh enough for 90 points. Won’t improve, but clearly not falling off a cliff. Bottle from case bought en primeur.
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2/16/2024 - Zweder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark berries, some pleasant oak and rustic flavors in the bouquet. Same on the palate, some graphite, dark chocolate and licorice. Firm and good acidity and tannin. Tasty and full bodied. Beautiful and textbook Haut Medoc with still a great promise for the future. Young maturity stage now.
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1/14/2024 - Caruso Likes this wine: 93 Points
Garnet with slight orange hue in thin layers. Bramble, black currants, tobacco, decaying wet leaves, terpenoid pine or so notes, pencil shavings. On the palate in addition forest floor, round but still present tannins and excellent length ending on this interesting terpenoid note and black fruit. This bottle is from a warmer than textbook cellar reaching 18°-19° C in summer and with 15°C in winter. This in mind it is a bit of a surprise to me, how well this ages, not a bit tired, but full of energy. Though there is a lot of sediment in the bottle, my advice is not to decant it. Just stand it upright for some hours or if you insist to make a decant for cosmetic reasons, don't give it more airtime, but serve it directly after the decant. 5/12/17/9. Still in its optimal drinking window for sure from my cellar. -2030+, Excellent to outstanding.
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1/14/2024 - Swintonblade Likes this wine: 87 Points
Wonderful nose at the start, decanted for 1 hour and was slightly fading towards the end. Just lacking in fruit & slightly drying on the finish. Drink up
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7/1/2023 - WineGracie Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still well within its peak. Nose of cassis, tobacco, and forest floor. The fruit is still beautifully concentrated, and the mouthfeel is silky.
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1/2/2022 - Billen wrote: 91 Points
perfect maturity in ad DMAG bottle.
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12/18/2021 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very dark in color still. Fully mature and with a lovely creamy cassis bouquet, resolved tannins and good acidity. This is drinking beautifully now and will hold for a few more years undoubtedly. Great value for money,
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9/9/2021 - bordeauxman777 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fully matured and wonderful. The concentration and poise are impressive. How long is it going to remain on the plato? Lovely!
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2/27/2021 - cugel_saga Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cracking bottle of wine, very good value for money.
Blackcurrant fruit, to begin, but settles into a well resolved, well balanced, beautiful glass of wine.
Gentle, subtle and pretty good. Not so big on the nose but fairly silky and gentle on the palate. Decent stuff.
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12/26/2020 - La Grappe wrote: 88 Points
Soft, slightly creamy, blackcurrant fruit, ripe and fairly full; fully mature or perhaps a little past its peak, as it fades a little at the end and finishes a bit short. Still good, but previous bottles were better.
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10/4/2020 - La Grappe wrote: 88 Points
Medium to dark colour, and medium weight on the palate; slightly rustic but well rounded claret, with a dryish finish. A good cru bourgeois.
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9/21/2020 - Vinophil2000 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Top Füllstand. Schien mir am ersten Abend recht weit entwickelt. Am zweiten Abend dann allerdingsganz wunderbar. Dunkle Frucht, beinahe Schokolade, Würze. Voll auf dem Höhepunkt. Wird sich nicht weiter verbessern aber vermutlich bis 2024 auf einem super Level trinken lassen.
90-92 Punkte? 2009-2025
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9/21/2020 - MM29 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Auch wenn ich weiterhin derjenige bin, der dem Wein die höchsten Noten gibt, ich bleibe dabei: absolut super PL, schön zu trinken...habe einen Drittel über 48 Stunden in der Karaffe vergessen...war selbst dann noch mega fein und nur wenige Zeichen von Altersmüdigkeit...der hält noch lange.
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7/5/2020 - Caruso Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ruby with maybe a little of orange reflexes to the rim. From the partly emptied bottle on day two it showed more cedar and roasty notes beside the fruity notes of black currants and blackberries and cherries. On day one without decant it showed brighter fruit. This has the potential of aging for another decade if perfectly stored since release. Nevertheless it has entered its plateau of maturity and is not likely to improve with further aging, but to change its character. Some smooth tannin left to be shed. -2029, 5/11/16/9
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6/28/2020 - La Grappe wrote: 88 Points
Quite attractive, soft, medium weight claret, with a slightly dry finish, perhaps from some residual tannin.
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6/21/2020 - MM29 wrote: 92 Points
Wie bisher, voll trinkreif
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6/5/2020 - fc1910 wrote: 90 Points
Pop this bottle to pair pasta with a red vegetable sauce and meat,
good smell in the glass, black tasty fruit, some licorice, minerals smoke,
on the palate some grainy tannin, still demanding, no way ready to enjoy, waited an hour more with slow ox, comes more together now, not really balanced, still at the beginning of its drinking window, rough, quite deep, very tight, good long convincing finish, bottles from well stored cellars need some 3-5 years more, **(+- +?), around 90(+)
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5/18/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose of black berry, black currants, cigar box, cedar, and forest floor with a hint of barnyard, on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, at peak, showing well tonight, mouth filling fruit, elegant, old style Bordeaux, having enjoyed several vintages of this wine, I think it is a value buy for me and always pro ides enjoyment, especially in a great vintage, lovely, long finish.
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4/30/2020 - Vinophil2000 Likes this wine: 90 Points
30 € plus Versandkosten für zwei Flaschen bezahlt. 15 € pro Flasche. Guter Weinwert.
Guter Naturkorken. Erst zu 5-10% durchtränkt. 13 % Vol.
Jugendlich frisch, tolle interessante, sexy Nase. 50/50 Blau und rotbeerig. Für fast 15 Jahre beinahe jugendlich wirkend. am zweiten Abend dann die verbliebenen 450 ml probiert. Ein Schmeichler, man merkt den Merlot.
Gut, jedoch deutlich gereifter, kein Vakuum. rotberiger. Mehr Teoerroir Würze, weniger rotbeerig, weniger Frucht, mehr Würze.
90-91 Punkte. Toller Wein. Jetzt am Beginn des Höhepunktes bis 2025+
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4/26/2020 - La Grappe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Quite a deep colour and a full, well rounded plate of blackcurrants and cream, with a savoury finish. Very good for a cru bourgeois.
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4/3/2020 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 90 Points
Last bottle. 2005 Château Charmail. Purchased in 2008 for $22 in sale. Mid-dark garnet, brick/amber edges; cocoa, cassis, cedar and tobacco nose; mid-body; balanced; decent fruit still; long round finish (Merlot), hints of tanning (Cabernet). 16 UC Davis scale, 90 other scales. w/grilled beef.
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3/13/2020 - JRagsdale Likes this wine: 91 Points
delicious and still going strong
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3/8/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose of black berry, black cherry, and black currants, same on the palate, medium/big body, in a great vintage this was a bargain at $21 a bottle, wish I owned more, tasty, rich fruit, almost mouth filling fruit, at peak but easily last another 10 years, a modern Bordeaux to enjoy, time to search the internet for more, and a long finish.
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3/7/2020 - La Grappe wrote: 88 Points
Quite ripe, soft fruit, with a slight astringency towards the finish. A good cru bourgeois which is attractive now but there is no hurry.
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3/7/2020 - MM29 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Für mich ist dieser Wein in jeder Hinsicht toll...ideale Trinkreife jetzt und noch einige Jahre. Super PLV...die besseren Bdx sind doppelt so teuer.
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1/28/2020 - La Grappe wrote: 89 Points
A dark colour; quite dense, slightly sweet blackcurrant fruit showing some elegance. Very good for a cru bourgeois. Drinking well now, but can be kept.
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1/25/2020 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful bouquet with dark berries, vanilla and other sweet spices. Same on the palate, licorice, good acidity and some bitterness in the finish. Maturity stage, but no hurry at all. Will still be fine in 2023 I suppose.
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12/19/2019 - werlbonn Likes this wine: 92 Points
Quite similar to the last bottles. Brilliant stuff. Fully developed, but no rush to drink. Off the chain QPR.
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12/15/2019 - Oenecnist wrote:
Bought a box of 6b for $125 from a broker about 9 years ago so about 21/b; this is #3 (also bought 3 mags for 45/mag). Decanted with normal sediment for its age. Dark ruby; subdued fruit nose, bit of funk, with thin redcurrant palate--BUT the fruit emerged after about 2 hours, and this improved considerably. Not complex, but a solid everyday Bdx after some exposure to air. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: For me, scores on a "100-point scale" are misleading. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. This is notable when considering quality, age, and price.
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6/9/2019 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose of black berry, black cherry, and black currants, same on the palate, medium/big body, in a great vintage this is a real easy Bordeaux experience, great QPR at $23.95, tasty, rich fruit, almost mouth filling fruit, and a long finish. Uploaded photo.
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5/11/2019 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose of black berry, black cherry, minerals, and black currants, same on the palate, medium/big body, in a great vintage this is a real easy Bordeaux experience, tasty, rich fruit, almost mouth filling fruit, and a long finish.
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4/12/2019 - MM29 Likes this wine: 92 Points
1 h in der Karaffe. Schon richtig schön, öffnet sich im Lauf des Abends zusehends. Einerseits leicht und bekömmlich, andererseits doch mit Druck und grosser Aromenvielfalt im Gaumen. Guter Wein aus gutem Jahrgang. Wird vielleicht noch besser...
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1/27/2019 - Caruso Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ruby to the rim. From bottle it is first totally closed, but begins to open after decant and, more slowly of course, from the partly emptied bottle within 30-60 minutes. From the start it is much more balanced than the D'Aurilhac, though it still has some tannin that can be shed in the next 10+ years. Blackcurrants, cedar, licorice, mulberries and flowers. 5/11/16/9 -2030 in a cool cellar. 90 points from Parker in 2008 and 89 in 2015.
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1/15/2019 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose of cassis, minerals, and black berry, same on the palate, medium/big body, at peak drinking with lovely secondary flavors showing, tasty, rich fruit, almost mouth filling fruit, almost elegant, and a long finish, great QPR at $21!
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8/29/2018 - bsreid Likes this wine: 91 Points
Standing for 2 weeks, opened and tasted from bottle. Nice fruit, bit of vanilla, and still decent tannins. About 10 minutes in a bit of funk blew off the bottle, but within 45 minutes it was drinking very nicely. Optimal would seem to be about 90 minutes to hours open at this stage of its life. Well balanced, round mouth feel, not enough complexity in the fruit to be a truly outstanding wine, but this is an beautiful, well balanced wine after 14 years. One note: the wine was clearly not corked, but the cork was on the fragile side. Drink within the next 2 years.
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5/6/2018 - blanquito wrote: 86 Points
Tried a 2005 Charmail last night. It was good, still showing some primary grapey flavors, but the texture was open and the tannins fairly resolved. Early maturity for my tastes. It had very good depth, exceptional for an $18 bottle of wine actually, but it didn’t show any overripe or new oak influences that wines in this price range often do. It’s shortcomings are being anodyne and semi-chunky. Still, I’d go 86-87 points on this today, it could go up a point or two if more nuance and interest develop in the cellar.
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3/24/2018 - RN wrote: 91 Points
Keeps getting better. Secondary development but with a nice core of fruit intact. Lovely minerality, aniseed and subtlety intergrated oak. Just great especially for what it is etc.
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2/27/2018 - Mtz Tom Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious! Nice balance of mineral and red fruit. A little towards mint and almonds. Bright with soft tannins and nice long finish. I wish I had more!
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11/7/2017 - RN wrote: 90 Points
Clear and almost 'glowing' with vitality. Clean and powerful. Mature but Not yet fully intergrated with a backbone of tannin still dominating. Not sure this will get any better. Most enjoyable.
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7/2/2017 - Caruso Likes this wine: 89 Points
Ruby with minimal lightening at the edge. Blackcurrant, cherries, flowers. Smooth tannin, sweet with a supple texture. This wine is gaining power after decantation. It is fully mature though there is still tannin that maybe shed over the next ten years in a cool cellar. -2025+
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5/5/2017 - viderunt wrote: 88 Points
Dark dense plum colour; good lift on nose of blackcurrant, wood and smoke; Ditto flavour. A balanced wine with a good finish, but a little thin and without any real complexity.
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2/12/2017 - gout wrote: flawed
Bottle was corked
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1/8/2017 - ThMeyer Likes this wine: 91 Points
As others said - a beauty!
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8/29/2016 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 90 Points
Red currants, smoke, plum, and black fruit on the nose. High tannins, menthol, and dark berries on the palate. Good finish.
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8/25/2016 - DRS-Inc wrote: 91 Points
PnP and consumed over 5 hours. Attractive bouquet. Cassis among notes of spicebox, tobacco, black licorice, some earth and garden herbs, and a touch of graphite and coffee. Dry, round and full-bodied with fine gritty tannins that became more prominent as it breathe. Had a good amount of acidity and a lasting finish. This has aged well and should continue to drink well up to another 5-7 years.
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7/30/2016 - ThMeyer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Finally a wine with age from my storage (which doesn't have great conditions) that tasted fresh, youthful and in its prime. Nice left bank Bordeaux flavors of cassis, black fruit, with structure. Nice!
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7/25/2016 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Weekly tasting group #223; Old World versus New World (@ AH): See also my previous note. Brought a bottle to a tasting and it performed well. Beside the Kanonkop Paul Sauer of the same vintage, this wine was more youthful and powerful. I can add some laurel and salty licorice as well as some toast and bell pepper. A beautiful and classical wine in its young maturity stage. 90 – 91, but 90 for this evening.
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6/20/2016 - tdh42 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really hitting its sweet spot now. 30 minutes in the decanter and it was a beauty.
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5/25/2016 - Zweder Likes this wine: 90 Points
In the bouquet dark forest fruits like blackcurrants, some vanilla, licorice and even a hint of graphite. On the palate all impressions come back. Pleasant acidity and tannin with a good, soft bite. Very harmonious wine. It was best the second day, so there is a future for several years. Have a few more, but I should have bought a few cases. Very good qpr! 89 - 90
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3/26/2016 - cbuhlman wrote:
dark garnet.
cherry, currant, spicy and earthy. (probably the PV) A liitttle thin on the palate and one dimensional, just short of being clumsy-but enjoyable for a basic cru bourgeois. Dry tannins on the brief finish.
This is ready to drink and will not benefit from further aging.
85-88
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12/6/2015 - bags wrote:
this is nice as a lower cost Bordeaux, and it won't get better. Should drink this way for at least 5 more yrs.
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9/15/2015 - wine&roses wrote: 89 Points
Perfectly nice claret nearing the end of its life.
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6/7/2015 - AllRed wrote: 87 Points
Second Sunday Group: 2005 Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Barb's): Aromas of dark fruit and plum with a nice earthy quality. A more rustic wine than the previous two. Nice fruit on the palate, primarily dark. A little thin through the mid-palate and finish.
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5/27/2015 - pommard1969 Likes this wine: 91 Points
nachdem mich die letzte Flasche überhaupt nicht aus dem Sockel gehauen hat kommt er nun sehr gut daher. das dominante Eichenfass tritt dezent in den Hintergrund. schmeckt sicher lecker die nächsten 4-5 Jahre, vielleicht auch länger, bin gespannt.
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3/23/2015 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 90 Points
MId-garnet, fading amber edges; berries, wood, earth nose; Cabernet and cassis hints; mid-body; ripe; round; good fruit and finish. Food wine.
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1/9/2015 - bags wrote:
didn't do much for me. will wait on the other bottles
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12/23/2014 - vinole wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for a half hour and then used a Vinturi to try to soften some more. Needed about an hour before it softened and opened, though still retained some of the hardness I have encountered with many 05 Bordeaux. Very dark color and fruit, medium body and medium minus acidity. Nice wine for the price and would wait a bit longer on these.
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12/4/2014 - blanquito wrote: 90 Points
Black core, garnet rim. Subdued, yet sweet bouquet with incipient cedar, purple soda, some Merlot chocolate. The palate is round, full and fleshy without being soulless. Fine acidity and some chewy soft tannins on the finish. Still playing a bit close to the vest and seeming a little stolid, but drinking better now with some air than most 2005 Bordeaux. A mid-modern wine that shows very little oak influence, I liked this and I think it will continue to improve/hold, but be sure to check in again within the next 5 years before it gets too soft and candied. Superb QPR for the $18 it cost on futures.
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5/17/2014 - eriklenh wrote: 90 Points
- Garnet color and aromas of black currant and has flavours of molasses with a medium body. Satin-Like texture with a medium finish.
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4/30/2014 - bacchusnyon wrote: 90 Points
Actually, this was really a very pleasant surprise, given its price point. It is right in the drinking window now, with a few minutes open or a quick decant, and rich mouth feel, long finish, and ripe berries, blackcurrant, cherries, with a small dusty note.
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4/8/2014 - schiwi wrote: 89 Points
"ein Mund voll Wein", passt nun ziemlich zusammen. So macht er Spass!
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3/8/2014 - Jpascual wrote:
- Brick color and aromas of tobacco and licorice anise with a medium/full body with a medium finish - Dried fruit and black fruit. Merlot coming trhough, nice tannins at the finnish. Full body, depth. Minerality and spices. Totally drinkable, could have waited.
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2/28/2014 - Wamrod wrote: 91 Points
Definitely in its window. Dark and rich to the eye. Nose of blackberry, plums, earth, tobacco. Smooth, plush, easy drinking on palate. Has shed rough edges and is integrating nicely.
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9/30/2013 - thetong wrote: 88 Points
No formal notes but the wine had decent, if subdued, fruit, strong tannins, a bit hollow in the mid, and a short-to-medium finish. Not a bad wine for $25 but not a screaming value, either.
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8/23/2013 - worldtraveler1987 wrote: 91 Points
Color: clear, trnsparent, medium ruby core, pale purple rim; Nose: Healthy, oak, eucalyptus, perhaps also mint, spice;
Taste: High acid, medium plus tannins, medium body, nice sharp, spicy taste; Paired perfectly with grilled leg of lamb, the tannins got smoother after 30 minutes while the acid remained sharp. Excellent wine!
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2/1/2013 - shakedown wrote: 88 Points
Solid wine and great value for the money. In a tasting of 3 other cabernets (chile and napa), this was not obvious bordeaux as it was really seamless with no rough edges and good pure fruit and tannins. Drinking well right now.
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1/27/2013 - HM1963 wrote: 89 Points
Very good food wine. Excellent quality for the price. Will be better in the coming 5 years.
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1/4/2013 - mbk07 wrote: 89 Points
Seems to become a good BDX. Everything is on the plate, fruit, tannin and concentration - but actual for me its a mixture with some gaps. Hope there will be more homogeneity in few years. Potential for a rating 90+ could be possible.
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10/30/2012 - wurzel68 wrote: 87 Points
Betörende, fast parfümiert wirkende Nase mit Frucht, reichlich Vanille; leider am Gaumen etwas stumpfe, mittelkörnige Tanninstruktur und leicht "grüner" Unterton, die die hohe Erwartung nach der Duftprobe nicht ganz erfüllen können
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9/28/2012 - sdwineguru wrote: 90 Points
Mid-dark, brick edges; chocolate, wood and berry nose (usually about 50 percent Merlot in the blend); balanced, smooth long finish, round; good food wine.
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9/16/2012 - gout wrote: 90 Points
Still a little tannic but starting to drink nicely. Plenty of fruit & moderate tannins . Firm structure, and long finish. Wll keep and develop further.
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8/31/2012 - benny wrote: 91 Points
Has developed some character. A enjoyable drink now.
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7/30/2012 - sdwineguru wrote: 89 Points
Mid-dark garnet; mint, berries, earth, Cabernet (35 percent) and Merlot (45%) nose; mid-body; good tannins but starting to soften; long finish. Super vallue from that vintage. w/beef
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7/22/2012 - Verhagen wrote: 89 Points
Good wine. Cheers.
Dark red, full. Dark fruit length is ok. Some tobacco?
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7/1/2012 - Squire wrote: 89 Points
Very nice - rounded, integrated, balanced. Let it breathe a bit before drinking. Okay to drink now but will benefit from another year of aging.
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6/26/2012 - benny wrote: 90 Points
Good place now. Pop and pour.
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6/12/2012 - henrygjeffreys wrote:
Nose: some toastiness, tobacco, smoke
Taste: good supple tannin, structured, perfume, long finish
Delicious now, will keep
Two ticks
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12/10/2011 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
Crimson color. Nice red fruit with a touch of that Bordeaux funk.
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10/29/2011 - Brett Pitt Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Too young
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8/1/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
This early drinking charming Bordeaux wine offers loads of fresh juicy creme de cassas, licorice, blackberry, black raspberry and earthy aromas. This is soft, round and already accessible. This is a solid Bordeaux value wine.
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7/17/2011 - benny wrote: 90 Points
Next time I will decant for one hour.
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7/14/2011 - MQuentel@web.de wrote: 87 Points
Very dark color. The nose ist withdrawn at the moment. Good body, but still tannic and it the future has to show, if the wine becomes better - with more fruit and elegance or if the 2005 Charmail will fall victim of to much structure/tannin/wood and will die as a prisoner.
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7/2/2011 - benny wrote: 90 Points
A lot of sediment. A nice drink.
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6/26/2011 - RN wrote: 90 Points
Big wine still very young and somewhat gangly-fruit, tannin and oak all still in abundance and yet to fully integrate. That said still very enjoyable and improved alot over a 12 HR period. Well made but needs another 2-5 yrs before drinking again.
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4/17/2011 - Grinner wrote: 90 Points
Looking back at my 2 notes from '08 cracks me up because nothing has really changed! This wine is still tight, dense, and hard to fully appreciate yet. Black fruit/cassis w/ hints of cigar/cedar supported mightily by the tannins. A crazy good deal and will reward those with patience and the storage space. Wait 2 more years!
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3/27/2011 - gout wrote: 89 Points
Plenty of fruit here, still looks immature , full colour good extract. Nose emerging but needs to evolve. Still quite tannic on the palate but plently of ripe fruit to cover. Needs more time, but a really good future , I think. Try 3 -5 yrs ?
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3/25/2011 - SimonK wrote: 90 Points
Nose: Violets, Blueberries, Karambola
On the Palate very well rounded with unsweet raspberries
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3/3/2011 - fsutallywineguy wrote:
Wow this is good; loads of cassis and vanilla on the nose with licorice and spice in the background; medium-bodied and elegant, with a finish that lasts for nearly thirty seconds. This is a steal for $20/bottle. Very well done.
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2/3/2011 - julianseersmartin wrote: 90 Points
Really very impressive for the money - lovely forward fruit and plenty of balance - not too dry like some other 2005 CBs are at the minute IMO.
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1/31/2011 - kdsipe wrote: 86 Points
Stewed strawberries and pencil. Everything else is hidden behind a wall of tannin. Very dry. Even more shut down on day two. Different from my last experience with this wine.
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1/23/2011 - sdwineguru wrote: 89 Points
Mid-dark garnet; Cabernet dominates the nose; mint, berries; a little terroir but more California-like; mid-body; decent tannins; good flavor; has improved with age since last tasting. w/barbecued tri-tip.
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9/30/2010 - raginbajan wrote: 91 Points
One of my favorite QPR wines from the Haut Medoc. The 2005 vintage is the best example of this wine I have experienced. Great black and blue fruits, balance and finesse.
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4/28/2010 - JJ De St Antoine wrote: 90 Points
Oaky, fruity nose, earthy, elegant Bordeaux style. Decanted 1 hour.
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3/31/2010 - WetRock wrote:
Lot's of vanilla oak initially on the nose which subsides a good deal overnight but doesn't go away and picks up some wood, herbal and cassis notes. The palate doesn't carry the oak in the same heavy way and shows good balancing acidity and a lean mouth feel. This is actually tight on the second night with the tannin beings being a bit green and drying. I don't think this will ever be a classic Bordeaux claret but its not over done like Monbousquet or Pavie Macquin. This needs a few more years to me. Very good value at $27.
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3/22/2010 - CdP in NYC wrote:
Too soon to judge. A fairly accessible nose of coffee, cocoa shavings, with some plum and cherry on the nose. Similar on the palate albeit w/ greater restraint and a somwhat smokey toasty oak finish with a touch of ash. Still plenty of tannins and grip to be resolved on the lengthy, dry finish. No doubt, this is a nice drinker now, but it has plenty of development ahead.
Hold. 90-92 -JRS
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2/19/2010 - benny wrote: 90 Points
Developing well. Needs lots of air.
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12/31/2009 - Richard M wrote: 91 Points
Tasted over 3 days. Initial impression softness,with elegant and rich Bordeaux fruit. Over the course of several days a richer and more balanced structure emerged with real complexity, suggesting solid potential for aging. This is a good value, and one that I suggest holding for at least a couple of years.
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12/30/2009 - ekenneth wrote: 89 Points
This wasn't quite as good as the last bottle I had, but I didn't let it sit as long. It's still a steal for good Bordeaux in a great vintage. Again, good smoke, a hint of chocolate, graphite, light plum, and minty.
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12/3/2009 - benny wrote: 89 Points
This needs more time. Will wait a year and try again. Heavy mineral on the nose. Strong tannins are not integrated.
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10/29/2009 - kdsipe wrote: 90 Points
A beautiful, high pitched nose of cherry with a hint of steminess. Full in the mouth with lots of ripe, drying tannins and good fruit. This wine was very enjoyable and alive with a good future ahead. The first 2005 Bordeaux I have enjoyed.
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10/24/2009 - Larry Brooks wrote: 89 Points
Earthy Bordeaux, nice extraction, not in the same style as was tasted next to our California. More left, will taste again tonight to see how it evolved.
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10/3/2009 - benny wrote: 91 Points
Decanted and poured thru Vinturi 4 times. Drank over 1 1/2 hours. Nose of flowers and cassis. On the palate smooth and ripe berries. The finish was long with up front tannins and with fresh berries lingering.
Very good for the price. Will age for a few years yet.
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9/13/2009 - ekenneth wrote: 91 Points
Dark, earthy, bordeaux blend. After about an hour or two, it has a smokey, lightly musty nose and dark plum, charcoal pencil, minty tobacco leaf and tounge-gripping tannin. This is a good buy and drinking well young.
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8/1/2009 - sdwineguru wrote: 88 Points
Mid-garnet, brick edges; French terroir nose; mix of Cabernet herbaceousness and Merlot chocolate aroma; light oak; mid-body; decent tannins; needs to open a little; should be fine through 2012 and beyond.
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5/21/2009 - Jeff W wrote:
Hopefully it will settle down, but right now it feels like a tannic fruit bomb. For me, it has too much of everything at this stage of its development, apart from balance and refinement.
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11/23/2008 - benny wrote: 90 Points
Actually too early to rate for me. Seemed to be a very young wine. I will wait a year before another or open for a day. At the price and RP drink window thought I could enjoy now...wrong!
Very tight after 1-2 hours. Tannins heavy on the palate and finish.
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10/28/2008 - Schrager wrote: 90 Points
The cork gave the first clue of richness with berries flowing. The nose was really nice, blackberry and vanilla wafting. The wine tasted young, full of rich tanin, but an excellent surprise at this price point. Highly recommended!
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10/11/2008 - Badfish wrote: 91 Points
Bordeaux Today (2005s & A Lone 2004) (Wine Exchange - Orange, CA): Deep raspberry core with a light purple rim. The aromas are very attractive with specific notes of currant, boysenberry, and crushed stones. The same attractive fruit character spills over onto the palate giving this wine a charming approachability. There are ample sweet tannins which give this wine solid structure. I also enjoyed the complexity provided by the baking spice finish. A number of quality conscious producers in the Haut-Médoc have offered extremely strong wines in this vintage and for me this is definitely one of them.
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7/1/2008 - Capybara562 wrote:
Still closed and powerful - needs another year or more in bottle. 2 days after opening, still needed air.
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6/22/2008 - Hueg wrote: 88 Points
This was a hard one... after first opening, and even after letting it breath for at least an hour it was too acidic to enjoy. Not much nose. Could pick up the tannins, not holding up too well other than lingering a bit on the finish (but not very long). Put a cork in it & let it the counter for 2 days, and it was a completely different wine. Could actually enjoy it and pick out a few more nuance flavors.
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6/9/2008 - Grinner wrote: 90 Points
Dense purple, tight nose, tons of stuff going on inside with tannins and acid battling it out with fruit and earth/minerals/tobacco/tar. Needs time...
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2/18/2008 - Grinner wrote: 89 Points
A brute of a bargain Bordeaux. Actually had a slight (and appropriate) nose, unlike some other '05's I've tried. It's all pleasant, tho' tight at this stage. Swirl in the glass for 20 minutes, get carpal tunnel syndrome, and you'll notice the wine picking up the obligatory pencil and cedar w/ trace of tobacco. Deep cassis and fairly huge tannins for a wine of this "pedigree". Makes you wonder why you bought some of these "value" 05's if they're difficult to appreciate young! I don't have the space to age wines I paid < $20 for!
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12/23/2007 - jimkay21 wrote: 88 Points
It took this wine about 2 hours to come around after decanting. Beautiful garnet/purple color, black cherry nose that soften over time. Black fruit continued into the palate, tannins are fine but prominent. Medium finish. I drank from a half bottle to get an early taste of this one. Quite nice. Worth picking up some more and drinking again in 2-5 years. Nothing fancy, but a solid Bordeaux.
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