Poured from a 375ml bottle and decanted for 90 minutes. Consumed over the subsequent two hours. Aeration was rewarded on the nose as it opened up into a lovely lady. Wonderful! The finish was a disappointment as it was tight and lean with grainy tannin. The nose did not match the finish. Very typical of the 2005 vintage. What this tells me is that 2005 is the longest lived vintage of the ‘00 decade.
Great bouquet of dark berries, blackcurrant, dark berry jam, cedar, mint, undergrowth. Smooth palate, sweet yet firm, with nice acidity and freshness, leading to a long finish of spices, tangy and slightly salty as well as sweet elements. Very balanced. Agree with others that more time will not hurt this wine but great to drink now.
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Relatively youthful still on nose with a lovely spiced black fruit character. Very dense and compacted on the palate with a plush, fine structure. While this is enjoyable now, it feels like it has much more to give. Would cellar this for a few more years.
WSET Notes:
Deep ruby.
Pronounced on the nose with blackcurrant, blackberry, mint, graphite, cassis, cedar, clove, vanilla, tobacco and leather. Developing.
Pronounced and dry on the palate. Full body, high tannins, high acidity, medium alcohol, long finish.
Can drink now but has potential for ageing.
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Double decanted and left for four hours. Well structured with supporting acidity. Yet round and smooth to drink. Very quickly emptied; a good sign. Will develop for another 10-20 years.
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Dark and fragrant nose with notes of cedar, blackberries, sweet fruit, spices, and anise. Good acidity on the palate with still present tannins, but they have started to integrate. Flavors of black cherries, berries, cedar, and tobacco. Quite long on the finish. This was really good and starting to become very approachable, but will surely continue to improve with age.
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Aging of the 2005 vintage has been a complicated story with so many wines still closed and disappointing… Rauzan-Segla is one of the pleasant exceptions that doesn’t require much more time to reach its potential. It’s very enjoyable already: with aromas of smoke and black cherry; and flavors of cassis, slightly unripe plum, and tons of blackberries. Beautifully balanced with velvety structure.
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Double decanted and drank over several hours. Silky fruit with cherry and mineral notes. On the early side of its drinking window but will continue to age gracefully.
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wow! Opened in bottle for 4 hours, early on stewed meats and dried sage. Nice but meaty and bulky, opened another 3 hours in bottle and drank over 2 hours and holy crap, this was delightful. Very floral nose of violet and lavender. The Merlot, over 40%, shined through with seductive tannin and silky notes. This wine was just on. Hold for 5 more years or decant for 4-5 hours, one of the most enjoyable wines of the year and I have had some good ones...
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The last bottle I tasted was in 2021. Now, very very good nose right after pulling the cork! This wine is best poured from bottle to glass: Don‘t miss the very best by airing it for hours - no need for this - it will loose aromas. Wow! Pure silk, violets and cherry. This is in its perfect drinking window. A very impressive Margaux-wine. Luckily I have another 6 if these!
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Pronounced nose intensity with notes of blackberry, toast, spices, leather, vanilla. Medium+ acidity and high tannin. Still youthful and probably have to wait at least 10 years to be on drinking window. Decanted 1 hour which is not enough, min 4 - 5 hours of decanting.
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The Four Seasons Tasting 2005 Bordeaux Second Growth (Aubergine Restaurant): (Tasted Blind) Attractive lifted ones of chocolate, mocha, pencil shavings, star anise and cassia root overlaid with a feral element. A full entry displays plenty of black fruit, minerals and farmyard pong. The fruit and fine-grained powdery tannins coat the mid-palate. There is a little more development to the wine making it more approachable. Dark plum, wet tobacco leaves, and liquorice join loganberry and blackcurrant on the mid-palate giving an opulent or rather soft core. Brooding almost robust, this is an intense wine with balancing lively acidity. Again elegant, there is a sensuality that I liked about the wine. Long persistent finish.
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Double decanter in the morning, with only a small amount of sediment, then left in bottle with a cork until dinner. Not ideal circumstances perhaps but dictated to by dinner plans.
The nose was surprisingly muted still, but perhaps impacted by the preparation. Palate was medium bodied, with lovely pure blueberry, blackberry and cassis flavours, a hint of iron and violets, still only in the very early drinking window. There was a sneaky intensity/length but I still would have hoped for a bit more weight….maybe the Margaux showing through though as it was still very pretty and refined. Docked a point or two because of the nose that will hopefully come good in time.
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6th bottle from a case bought en primeur. Beautiful Margaux nose of mint and violets, then cassis and graphite. Later tobacco and coffee. Very long penetrating finish. This bottle not quite as good as the previous one with the tannins slightly dominating the fruit. This could just be down to the room temperature being rather cold, which is normally fine for older less tannic vintages, but 2005 was a very tannic vintage and whilst the tannins have largely resolved there are enough left to treat the wine like a youngish vintage.
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A little disappointing given the hype on release Very old world. Ery tradition nose and flavor but potentially a little corkage on the nose. Still. Drinking well.
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Decanted seven hours. The wine was very closed for about four hours. Dark fruit and berry. Less tobacco than before. Leather and hints of stone/gravel yielding to a subtle expresso note with long tannic finish. I think this wine is very enjoyable with much life in the cellar. Seems relatively young.
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Deeply stained cork about one fifth infiltrated, but it pulled real solid and didn't push into bottle. Almost no bouquet and very little flavor upon first taste, but definitely structure. Thought it was faded and past its prime. I was mistaken. Had some each day and each day fruit emerged a little bit more, and acidity brightened and lifted wine. Started getting bright cherry about three days open. It wasn't until fifth day that bouquet was present when uncorked. Really active on tongue when swished, and tannins present but not brutal. Feels like beginning of tannin integration. Fruit, while not prominent, is present and on bright side. There is an unknown flavor which comes forward when swished in mouth. Initially felt chemical but it isn't. Feels like unique soil and mineral profile possible unique to wine. This wine only began to really show after five days. Currently there is enough fruit but if further aged, uncertain if it will wane. Hard one to call. Needs lots of aeration even at seventeen years, or age further. Quite nice with steaks and meats and oddly enough chicken stir fry. Like Wineforth's take on this, and other reviewers note tannin structure.
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En-Primeur campaign for the 2021 vintage; 4/25/2022-4/29/2022 (Bordeaux): Served blind A little reticent, shows black head fruit – plums, blackcurrant, a little leafy note, and some leather tertiariness. Freshly juicy, black hued fruits, talc textured tannins, plums, slight alcohol warmth and a sense of thickness. Okay. I got stuck between 2005 and 2000 and plumped for the latter because of that leathery note.
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Quite a perfuming nose of spice, burnt cigar, violets, lilacs, wet cedar, mint and a touch of anise; not really getting any fruit. Palate is still youthful with punchy acidity and youthful tannins but not a depth in body or hints of any finesse. The nose is far more mature than the palate and I could smell it for hours; body leaves something to be desired but think it either needs more time or never comes around. 92/93
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Pnp from a 375. Dark garnet. Somewhat evolved, but pleasant nose of tobacco, old leather, some back-end spice, some dark prune. Palate has a lot of structure here, quite chewy. Very alive, with dark berries.
Plenty of life ahead, as in decades (plural), give it a decant if drinking anytime soon. This is excellent. I need to buy more Bordeaux.
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Bouquet of blackberries, pencil, liquor, undergrowth. Smooth, medium-bodied palate, juicy berries, inky feel of a younger wine, acidity, leading to a long finish. Fantastically elegant wine but still feels young, in need of 2-3 years to further round out, although a pleasure to drink already. Better on the second night.
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Decanted for about four hours, probably two hours should suffice. Still had tannins and acidity so this wine has plenty more time in the cellar. Dark fruit with some fig and tobacco with silky tannins through a moderate finish.
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Medium ruby. A very beautiful black cherry, cassis, mint bouquet, and a hint of nutmeg. Tannins still providing quite a bite, otherwise a fairly silky texture, with fairly ripe blackberry flavours, and lots of savoury spices, that of black pepper, nutmeg and cloves, and even having a bit of dried meat. Long, fruit and spice driven finish. Great wine! Still some potential to age further
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Quite well-developed - surprisingly so, in fact - with game, smoke and blood, like a well-hung grouse. Lovely silky mouthfeel - really nice to drink. Tangy, violet-accented finish. Wonderful with my cheeseboard, probably even better with a ribeye. Sexy wine!
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Very disappointed missing the softness of a grave and even after 18 years still taste and feels like a very young wine. Started softening somewhat after 4 to 5 hours. Over priced for this wine
Decanted 2,5 hours. Still young but already very good. At the moment I would recommend to decant it at least 3 hours. I think this will improve with more age. 93+ pts.
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Coravin sample. Cassis, plums with secondary aromas, Rich fruit, great lenght, decent acidity and fine grained but not quite yet resolved tannin. Needs more time.
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Now this was something of a mystery on the first night. It opened up with a marvellous nose immediately after opening, so we didn’t decant after reading some other notes here. Big mistake! After about 15 minutes it was flat on the palate and musty and dark on the nose. A roller coaster over the next hour or so, and really not enjoyable, we put a cork inthe remaining half a bottle for the next night.
Night two and here we go. Consistly lovely nose and delicious drinking over an hour or so. I’ll keep my hand of the remaining bottles for a four or five years I think.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Muted cassis nose. Dark berry fruit, adequate acidity and prominent tannins are all present in sufficient quantity but not in balance as of yet. Although considered a notable vintage I think this needs more time to come together. Notable improvement in the glass as the evening progressed. Juxtaposed to the considered lesser vintage 2004 it was paired with this evening it showed promise but also the need for more time in the bottle.
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Anton’s Wine Tasting Notes Winery: Château Rauzan-Ségla Varietal: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot Area/Appellation: France, Bordeaux, Margaux Vintage: 2005. Price: $145 Secondary market. Color: Opaque almost black, very slight browning on the rim Legs: slow to medium Nose: earthy loam, black truffles, cedar, black currants, blackberry, Palate: black berries, currants, cassis, tobacco leaf, now sage, cedar, rich dark Margaux soil and truffles and leather. Finish: smoothed out tannins lots of black dark fruits and oak and tobacco and leather, very well kept, everything fruit acids in balance Comments: Great acidity considering it is 15 plus years old. However, the depth and concentration that was there 2 years ago has waned, after a 2 hour glass decant which was not needed.. Judging from my fellow CT’ers, I think we have a little bottle variance going on here. It smelled remarkable upon opening. I recommend Pop ‘n’ Pour at this point in time. It is still an incredible wine. Pairing Suggestions: BBQ boneless pork loin ribs, roast lamb with garlic and rosemary, roast beast, veal, venison you get the picture Score in terms of Vintage: 94 Score for the Wine: 94 Value for the Money: Excellent Date Tasted: 02/21/2021 Tasted by: AcK
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Bouquet of ripe blue- and blackberries, roasted peppers, wet tobacco, undergrowth, first night more muted, more open second night. Balanced palate with quite an amount of freshness and subtle sweetness, some spices, relatively long finish with fine tannins, spices and minerals. Relatively lean but still lush. Feels like further upside from getting just a 95 to a good 95.
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Unripe blackberry, gravel, leather, figs, expressive nose; smooth, silky, yet substantial with good structure and long finish; initially somewhat tight but elegant and pleasing; after a couple of hours still similar but becomes more muted
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The most impressive experience was the nose immediatly after having slowly pulled the cork and when pouring this dark juice from the bottle in the glass: Rich and warm aromas of old leather, barnyard and black truffle, and a hint of violets. Wow, what an erotic moment! I was sure that this was going to be a very tasty wine. But after 1 hour in the decanter, these aromas were sadly much weaker and less impressive, the make-up was almost gone. So I doubt that decanting is recommended: You might miss the very hottest moments of pleasure! In the palate it was always very silky and smooth, the tannins well integrated, but it could not quite live up to the beginning’s sexy nose, behaving a bit flat and shy. Half of the (not decanted) bottle we drank on the next day: Still very pleasant. Will the palate become more impressive over the years? I hope so!
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Young, but not a baby, this has entered its early drinking window and has a fantastic nose that you could sell to me as a candle and I would buy a yearly subscription. Earthy, floral, spicy, liqueur and a whole lot of cedar made this an absolute pleasure to swirl and sniff. Unfortunately, this was the highlight of the experience, as the palate just didn't ever really come together over 4 hours of tasting. Tannic, acidic, a bit fruit forward although you could make out the minerals and balance as time went on, this is probably going to be a better experience in 2027 but is it going to be worth the wait?
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Nose with cherry, leather, dust, but not very strong. On palate quite young and aggressive given age, high level of acidity - borderline to sour. Dark fruits, tannins coming to the surface, spices, petroleum. Overall solid, but price/quality out of balance, far too expensive.
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Deepest ruby. Moderately intense, developed aromas of black currant, stewed dark fruit, old leather, mushroom and forest floor. Graphite and a hint of cigar box. Silky smooth, moderate tannins are balanced by medium to medium high acid. The flavors and tannins are well integrated, perhaps slightly more so then I expected from this 15-year-old. Medium long finish. This will, of course, age for years, but I’m not sure it will improve much. I think it’s ready to go now. I popped and poured this one, so there’s a chance things will open up a bit with a little air.
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Decanted for 3 hours. Graphite and old library books on the nose. There is a faint floral hint too. Dried dark fruits and licorice on the palate. The finish is very long. Excellent showing right now.
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Black, very dark! No decant. As expected lost some fruit, good length... Graphite, plums, black currants. Classic mature Bordeaux. Preference for it 5 yrs ago when showing a bit more fruit, but good graphite character with food. A little more serious now. Funny how wines mirror us. Med body, no rush, will age gracefully for 10 yrs. hopefully I do also.
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Rauzan Segla 2005 Second bottle of this. Drinking well now. Nose is fabulous: plum, blackcurrant, powdery violets, cedar, black truffle and some forest floor. Palate is a bit thinner in body than you might expect but delivers on the nose with a high acidity and fine but present tannins
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Decanted at cellar temperature for 5 hours. Crimson in color. 13.5% ABV. Classic nose of black fruits, cigar box, graphite and leather. Medium to full bodied with tremendous acidity. Powerful and concentrated with structure in spades. Copious dark fruits. Truffles, currants, crème de cassis and earth on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish with the silky tannins. Tremendous wine from an appellation that truly excelled in 2005. Just entering what should be a long drinking window. This will drink well for at least another decade if not longer.
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C'était le plus (jeune) des vins dans nos verres. Une bombe de fruit, belle finesse en bouche, aucun nez par contre. La bouche est suave, c'est velouté, c'est fin, peu de personnalité à la Bordeaux, mais plaisir immense à boire ce vin.
4/5
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On dirait encore un bébé avec une explosion de fruit. C'est très sexy Bordeaux, sans avoir une personnalité bien à elle. Peut-être que la typicité des 2 vins précédents ont altéré mon jugement. Ceci étant dit, que du plaisir en bouteille!!
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This was interesting. Opened and over the first hour crushed violets on nose. Notes of bright cherry, cedar, earth. After the four hour decant the wine was served and was closed. Almost no fruit, obtrusive tannins on the finish. The wine was very austere and not very enjoyable.
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Cassis, violets, as well as secondary characteristics of leather and wood, with a lively acidity and fine tannins. Medium bodied. This is entering a long drinking window, and is very nice now.
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Out of 375. cassis, blackberry, tart currants, hit of smoke and cedar. Medium bodied with fresh acidity. Wine hasn't peaked, but I find it enjoyable now. I still get a little spike of rough alcohol on the finish, otherwise would be 93+.
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At 15 this is still only just ready to drink. Beautiful Margaux nose of violets, then cassis and graphite. Later tobacco. Long penetrating finish. Will drink well for another 15 years.
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Blackberry, cassis, perfumed flora, spices, cedar. High tannins and acidity. It is still very young to consumed even after 15 years of bottling. It's a very good vintage. This wine will probably start drinking well after 10-15 years later.
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Better on day 2! Youthful with vibrant acidity and texture. Amazing aromatics; nose of tart berry, graphite, dried flowers, forest floor. Full mouth feel and nice finish. Elevates on the palate.
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30+ minute decant. One of the best noses ever!! Super complex with floral tones, graphite, and cherry fruit. Wine is refined and fruit forward. More high end Napa than French Bordeaux. Medium finish. Love it’s uniqueness.
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Great flowery nose with violet, rose petals, eucalyptus and dark fruit; muscular body with light acidity, still tight tannins and medium-plus length finish
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Stylish, subtle bouquet of dark fruit preserve, roasted bell pepper, vanilla, undergrowth. First night a bit thin, better with food and time. Second night medium-bodied, fresh and minty, sweet, spicy, smooth, relatively long. A very enjoyable, low key yet still intellectual, subtle Bordeaux. Very perfumed. Would say still early in the drinking window with some improvement potential, as the last glass was the best.
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Day one was tightctannic and unpleasant. Day two was goirgeous red and black fruits. Soft and smoky. A classic Bdx wine with much room to run. Beautiful.
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Vinetasters: 2005 Bordeaux 2nd Growths (Skokie, IL): Served double blind. Relatively lighter on the nose, with a slight bit of char and some sweet red fruit. The palate shows a cough syrup component, with fairly coarse tannins that aren’t resolved at all. Very chewy and grainy, this leaves you with a somewhat leathery texture. A slight hint of overripeness on the palate here as well. My 8th, group's 7th.
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Entering a nice drinking window now and very youthful and fresh. Aromas of black currant, dark fresh fruit, pencil shavings, and nice violet scents. Medium soft palate with fantastic weight and acidity. Nice finish with medium length and a lot of freshness which makes this a great winner.
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At last the 05's are fully ready. 4th bottle from a case bought en primeur. Blackcurrant and oak nose. Mocha and tobacco on the palate and huge finish. Lots of medium to soft tannins. Balanced and harmonious. Drink over the next 8 years. Lovely.
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Fine bouquet. Very elegant, balanced wine, subtle, fine tannins, nice spiciness. Sufficient structure and grip not too simple, with a long finish. An incredibly pleasant wine to drink, not shooting out the lights, but all the elements fall in place, everything is in harmony. Clearly in early drinking window and no reason to wait.
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Beautiful texture and feels as though it is just arriving to a long drinking window. Mostly primary currant and blackberry fruit with emerging tobacco and graphite impressions and a little wood spice. Good posture with subtle grip and some dusty tannins on the finish. It is not stern and closed, it has the nervous energy of youth.
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A rounded, exceptionally well integrated wine. The terroir is present along with traditional Margaux notes in nose and mouth. Ready to drink or keep for another five- seven years.
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Great performance this vintage to this domaine that is so improved over the last 5 or so years. Really nice to drink now although will ofc hold for years to come.
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Still very young...in fact too young. Needed a longer decant than we were able to accommodate. Still very closed at the nose, but opened with air. Cant wait to try this in another 10 years.
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Forward aromatics of black fruits, black currant, pencil lead and a touch of funk from brett. Decent concentration, shows the vintage. Seamlessly integrated and impeccably balanced, this 2005 is surprisingly open and accessible, with lovely flavors mirroring the nose and lingering through on the persistent close. Outstanding. Some might consider this to be of a more modern style than traditional; regardless, it's archetypal Margaux and a beautiful example at that.
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Bought as a future / en premiere, in cellar since delivery. Color of medium red. Scents and tastes consistent....blackberry, blueberry, currant, and smooth tannin.
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The wine was dark ruby in colour and offered shy floral notes, dark fruit, lots of new oak influence, spices, some chocolate, some vanilla, some coconut, pencil shaving and a hint of mint on the nose. On the palate, the wine showed dark fruit, cassis, blackberry, plum, oak, spices, coffee, chocolate, some vanilla and a hint of coconut, complemented by a floral component, with medium to medium-plus acidity, smooth, ripe tannin, a good mouthfeel and very good length. The ripe (but by no means overripe), medium-bodied, modern-style Bordeaux became smooth and balanced after three hours of aeration. The oak was quite prominent and the wine reminded of modern-style Rioja in its ripeness and oakiness. A great wine that showed tremendous potential, but it will need a lot of time in the cellar to develop and integrate the different components. While this is an outstanding Bordeaux with lots of promise for the future, an affordable, mature 1997 Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux was actually more pleasant to drink at the wines' current stages.
Understated and reserved. Quite balanced and subtle- perhaps coming out of a slight slumber. Palate was primarily dark fruit with a small strain of graphite.
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Decanted for 2 hrs. Nose initially developing very well (dark fruits), over time losing power somewhat. On palate very earthy, still fresh, with strong, but balanced tannins.
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Stellar bottle. In a perfect place right now. Elegance, freshness, structure and fruit complexity, all in one harmonious composition. Tannins are round, but promise a bright future.
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A little more satisfying than last tasting - and still limited breathing. A little more fruit and depth apparent. Still very fresh with dark fruits and classic cassis flavour. A little mineral purity but rounded at same time. Actually showed well straight after the 2009 (vertical tasting) I thought in retrospect - easy to have been overshadowed. Very enjoyable.
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During a Cab Sav Dinner. Finally, after few bottles that showed excessive heat and made me question this Cru's 2005 offering, we had a good bottle at today's session. Nose of dark fruit with Medoc spicy Margaux notes, earth. Medium bodied with good tannins, on the young side still, classic and very drinkable with food. Early, decant for 1h.
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Second time trying this 2005 vintage of Rauzan-Segla, the experience was a bit subdued and seemed closed down even after several hours of decanting. This one is still evolving, so will save final bottle at least until 2021 before trying again.
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Initially the nose had the classic Bordeaux funk, intense, earthy, farm fields, tobacco, dark red fruits. Dark red fruits on the attack, red currants, lead pencil, nice acidity from the mid-palate on. This is drinking really nice, but honestly needs another 5 years to enter it's best drinking window. Very good!
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After a rather tight and closed showing of this wine a few months ago, decided to open the wine 12 hours (cork put back) before a 1h decant. Considerably softer and rounder than last time but still rather muted on nose and palate with nice sous bois, red and dark fruit and a gentle touch of oak. Compared to a 09 Giscours we drank next to it, this impressed with a restrained but regal palate where the Giscours seemed somewhat vulgar with excessive oak dominating the rich fruit. Hold for another 3-4 years. 92+
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Started slow, definitely better after 30 minutes. at first the tannins are very grippy but they do soften with aeration, and that allows dark fruit and baking spices to emerge. There's good life in the finish
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Very enjoyable on opening, black currant, spice, Dark fruits. Benefited from 2 hour decant, superb w beef. Medium bodied and drinking very well, will go another 5+ years but worth it now, just lovely.
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Drank alongside pasta with spicy Italian sausage. This was a nice combination and the wine is showing well, given a couple hour decant. Got even better as the evening progressed. Only had one bottle, but if I were to do it again would probably double the decanting time. Both wife and I enjoyed.
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Mahogany dominates a spicy dark nose. Slightly thin on the palate. Out of balance for now - where's the fruit from the vintage? Tannins still dominate a slightly bitter finish. This bottle was closed and I could not coax anything much out of it. V different from a few years ago. Hopefully not out of balance for the longer term. Not rating.
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Decanted an hour and further time in the glass during a leisurely dinner. Open up steadily during the evening. Enjoyed it with fine Shanghainese cuisine. Memorable, elegant. Look forward to trying again a few years down the road.
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There is an alternative to waiting a couple of years before drinking this wine. Drink it on a hot day. 30 deg centig is perfect. Big violets and dark cherry nose. Coffee, savoury, complex flavours. Plenty of soft /medium tannins. Hugely long finish. The hint of over extraction is falling out with time. Superb.
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Two Coravin'ed glasses at different occasions. Dark garnet with translucent rim. Deep and complex nose with soil, herbs and tobacco leaves, on the palate this has concentrated fruit, still a bit of the oak and while not unpleasant to drink, the wine is tight as a fist with medium (-) tannins. Nice now (91-92) but will be certainly show much better with another 3-4 years in bottle (93-94?), or perhaps also now with a long decant.
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This is not the most structured or sophisticated Rauzan I have ever had, but it is one of the most fun to drink. It is also coming into its own as a the fruit is hitting more front and center as some of the oakiness prevalent when younger peels off. The aromas that include some elegant but spicy cherry mixed with some distinctive smokiness and minerality indicate that even more earthy complexity will be forthcoming from the wine with more age. The cherry flavors really hit the front palate pleasantly, the game, earthy, coffee and black cherry flavors dominate the back palate into a long, structured finish. Still hefty with tannins, the 2005 Rauzan has the acidity to back them up and balance nicely, insuring the silkiness in finish that is characteristic of Marguax. A really nice example of mid priced Margaux and a fine compliment to spicier or meatier meals.
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Tasted during a long night of drinking of mixed wines so give me a little latitude: I'm mostly recording the score for posterity. Deep, lush dark fruits maybe mixing some tobacco in. It has exuberance but not showing quite as much complexity as I expected.
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Was still too young 18 months ago. Today it proved the adage that you should drink young wines in the summer. Tannin was less evident on a hot day but still a huge structured wine. Sweet dark blackcurrant and oak. Will improve further over the next few years and will then have a long life ahead.
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Tasted next to a 2014 barrel sample. Quite backward, a bit closed on the nose with notes of graphite, tobacco, hints of dark fruit, smoke. Impressive balance on the palate. Fresh, round, grippy, slightly drying tannins. Great finish. Needs more time. 93-94+
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Medium purple. Discrete nose of sweet spices, dark fruit with very nice Margaux typicity. On the palate this is a medium bodied wine with lively acidity and still young structure. This needs at least till 2018/20 to be in a good drinking window. Will be an elegant and fragrant wine I am sure. This was confirmed when I kept the wine in the fridge and it significantly improved over the next two days. Wait. 93-95
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Good pull on 10 year old cork and integrity good, no degradation. Very soft wine, could barely tell where the fruit was. Acidity more prominent. Cherry flavor also. Wasn't impressed and disappointed that this didn't live up to the hype. But the next day it got a lot better, exponentially so. Very polished wine now, fruit has emerged, wonderful balance. This wine has a lot of life left. Drinking now you will need a good day decant. These French 2005 wines have a lot of guts and require time.
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Showing some lightness in color, with truffle, tobacco, earth, cigar box, licorice and black fruits in the nose. Sleepy, but not closed, this structured, age worthy wine needs serious air or another 5-10 years, before it truly starts to show all its considerable, soft, supple charms and complexities.
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4 hour decant and drank over 3 hours. dusty smooth but a bit disjointed with a very nice spine of tannins. This is an infant and will develop layers of complexity over time. Definitely not the #2 wine status given by Wine Spectator but more in the line with the Tanzer Review.
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The bouquet displayed dark red fruits with mineral-laden soil, undergrowth, and dark florals It was more forward and engaging on the nose than from my last experience, yet it was still brooding and quite classic. The palate showed power and grace with dried berry and earthy minerals backed by fine tannin, which coated the palate through the close, yet its pure and focused fruit remained upon the senses. Gorgeous—classic.
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Tasted blind. Pretty medium garnet red. Lots of depth on the nose - grape bubble gum and a sense that the wine is as deep as the ocean. Notes of dusty hay, red fruits, vanillin.
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2005 Bordeaux Retrospective (Morrell Wine, 1 Rockefeller Plaza): The nose showed cedar and spice up front, followed by dark red fruits, undergrowth, floral tones and herbs. It was silky-smooth on the palate, with dark red fruit and remarkable finesse leaving an impression of seamless balance. The finish showed dried red berry, mineral-laden soil and undergrowth with fine tannin in a truly classic expression of Bordeaux. Bury this in your cellar and reap the rewards for decades to come.
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A strong showing. Decanted 2+ hours. Dark in color, concentrated. Nose of dark currant, blackberry, violets, cigar, and espresso. Solid on the mid-palate. Tannins still need integration. This is still holding back a bit, and needs a few years of cellaring.
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Deep crimson-red. Beautiful nose, initially reticent, but opened in the decanter over an hour to reveal blackcurrant, bilberry, cherry and write flowers. Touches of dark chocolate and liquorice. Palate intense and soft simultaneously with great mouthfeel and length. Very fine balance - this is a great 2005 very much in the classic Margaux mold.
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Excellent. Needs a few hour decant at this point and best days are ahead, but plenty good now. I wish the nose had more on offer but the palate and finish were fantastic with tannins still unresolved but very present.
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Very nice blackberry, chocolate, great black fruit on the nose. Dried flowers, perfume, hint of must, a bit of pepper also on the nose. Blackberry, blueberry, creme de cassis flavors. Acid medium plus. Medium weight. Hint of mushroom flavors. Quite young, but delicious. This wine has great potential. I am a big fan.
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Stored in natural cellar so may be more developed than other recent notes. 2 hours air but came alive after 3. Wonderful traditional blackcurrant on the nose. But it is the Merlot which stars - fleshy, blueberry on the palate. Elegant, long finish, everything understated. Less sense of the oak, and less dark than I am used to from here. Obviously young and with more to come - but still so easy to drink tonight.
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Really tannic, more so than I expect from here, but there's finesse in there, and red fruit complexity and freshness, smoke, and tobacco among all the dark fruit.
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Two-hour Vinturi decant and rebottle for transit to restaurant with one hour slow-ox. I really wanted to rate this as an improvement over last try two-and-a-half years ago, but...even though some secondaries are starting to come forward (smoke, tobacco & sous-bois), the overall mouthfeel sense is that this is just a bit, well, thin. Well-balanced, medium finish; nothing wrong here, but I was hoping for more as this nears the decade mark.
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At close to 10 years of age, secondary notes of smoke, tobacco, caramel, blackberry, forest floor and cassis are easy to find. Long, fresh and balanced, there is a beautiful sense of purity in the fruit that pairs perfectly with the soft, ripe tannins in the finish. Still young, this is only starting to wake up and should age gracefully for at least 2 decades or more.
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Very good bottle and took an hour or two to open, crushed flowers and earth on the nose. Taste leather raspberry mushroom earth, nicely layered with some drying tannin on the finish.
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I really liked this wine although in reality it was sampled rather than drank. It had an ethereal nose of kirsch and strawberry -almost burgundian- together with leather nuances and some green notes. Fluid texture, medium bodied but concentrated flavor-wise with tannins left to shed.
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Over the past two years this has really developed. Rose petals, tobacco, gravel pit, blackberry, leather, spice, jasmine and sliced mushroom. More tobacco than last time and a little cedar on the long and beyond silky finish. Silky is the name of the game here and not a vacuous point at all on this elegantly curvy goddess. The colour is very '05 in depth and style. Wait a couple more years or decant for at least two hours - which I did. See previous notes. Drink 2016 -.
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S&E Wine Club - French Bordeaux Night (Our House): The cabernet comes through nicely over the merlot. Definite Left bank but I wonder if it is currently a little closed (Finish was not perfectly smooth). Nice oaky nose with a hint of crushed strawberry. Dry tannins (7/10) with the petit verdot coming through strongly in the finish. NS 92
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2012 En Primeur - Kelly and Kevin’s excellent adventure; 4/4/2013-4/9/2013 (Bordeaux, France): There are some back vintages in this tasting. This is a superb wine. Still very youthful but a hint of secondary notes, black fruits, lead pencil, a hint of cedar and earth. Excellent concentration and structure. I wouldn’t be surprised if this will be equal or better than the 86.
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Massive structure built for the long haul. Drying tannins make it hard to drink much now, but delicious fruit (not a fruit bomb), cedar, tobacco and other aroma's and tastes give complexity. Can just imagine this being fantastic in 10-20 years.
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Drank with Christmas dinner. Have to admit that this was a decent, but disappointing bottle. Had purchased this after an extensive Bordeaux tasting where Rauzan was the best in show. Would suggest waiting a few more years as the wine was a bit shut down now, and lacking in the depth and complexity one would expect.
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nice lean body.veri well structuture.rather youthful but yet with evident secondary notes.decant arnd 4 hrs but stil with solid structure.tings tat tis bttl lack is complexity.overall comments:anice bttl of wine tat nd lots time
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Viel Potential 92-95 Sehr schönes dunkles Kirschrot,dass violette Reflexe offenbart. Ja,Ersteindruck ist schon noch zugeknöpft. Eiche,eine leicht ätherische Note,Leder momentan schwarzfruchtig. Gerbstoffe doch schon gut verträglich. Mikroschluck tendiert zu Kirsche. Also Vorwurf von zuwenig Frucht kann man ihm,mit genügend Luft nicht wirklich machen.Changiert doch zwischen schwarzfr. bis zu Himbeeren und Kirsche, relativ stark.Florales, Veilchen,sowie erdig,würziges können dem zwischendurch auftauchenden Eicharomen,problemlos Paroli bieten. Insgesamt doch recht dicht gewoben,mit langem rotfruchtigem leicht prägenden Abgang
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Forty-five minute decant at restaurant; wasn't long enough...should be decanted perhaps 3 hours. Restrained nose. Dark fruit and floral components there, but require a bit of a search. Slighty thin mouthfeel, medium finish. HOLD, as I expected a bit more, and am confident bottle time will deliver more to those who wait.
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Chateau Rauzan-Segla Vertical Tasting and Chateau Canon with John Kolasa (Mariposa - Honolulu, HI): This truly draws you in on all aspects. Violets, blackberry, musk, leather, spice and tobacco leaf. Proportioned mushroom and berry on the palate. A one minute-plus finish and a true echo affect. This oozing, elegant Rauzan is their flagship in an insatiable and seamless fashion. The softest of tannin that really coats your palate. My favorite of the night and this is progressing in a mesmerizing way. Oh my.... Drink 2017-.
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Definitely needs a lot more time in the cellar. Beautiful forward Marguax nose of black and dark red fruits, strawberries and flowers, leather, musk and tobacco leaves. Deep purplish crimson color. On the palate, excellent and velevety attack, explosive and rich fruit mid palate and powerful tannins which clearly need another 7 - 10 years to soften. Medium to full bodied this is a very enjoyable wine with the only slight disppointment in the finish which came a bit short. Excellent value.
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J & G Steakhouse. W Washington, DC. Brief decant. Opaque red. Wow! This has a fantastic nose! Fragrant floral aromas combine with fresh tobacco, leather and dark berry fruit. The nose never let down over the evening. This is just a baby as shown by the strong tannins. But there is nice balance in this wine and, after extended time in the decanter, it really settled down into a mix of tobacco and dark fruits. The nose certainly outdid the palate but this wine has room to grow.
50+4+15+17+7
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Still reticent and showing very little on the nose. It has grip but isn’t showing what’s behind the wall of tannins. Somewhat dissapointing. After about 2 more hours, the wine develops a more beautiful nose of tobacco and bright kirsch. The wine never really showed up and something of a disappointment as this has been a “wow” wine for me in the past. If I had to rate I'd give this a 91-92 pts but the prior experience was in the 97+ range. Confer what you will, but I'd stay away from the wine for a few years or give it a healthy decant.
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WGS: 2005 Bordeaux; 4/17/2010-4/18/2010 (Hilton Hotel Singapore): Something really alluring and seductive here. Silky , smooth, mysterious . Polished fine fruits, excellently well made wine. Super classy, soft yet firm, black graphite with a lingering finish. Great potential.This has surpassed my prediction for its development by a notch and becoming really fitting of its cru classe.
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I was expecting more from this wine. Seemed to lack grip and concentration. i know it's supposed to be on the elegant side becasue it's a Margaux but I expected more.
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WFA Bordeaux 2005/2006 Tasting by the Wine Review (Suntec Convention Centre, Singapore): I thought this was first class. Lovely, lovely nose. Rich, yet elegant, with plums and cassis wed to perfumed flowers and inflected with bits of meatiness and some talcum powder accents. Very complete on the palate. Rich and concentrated, with plums and cassis fruit wed to perfumed tones and spicy notes, all pinned to ripe, melting tannins. A real charmer. Nice long finish too, with fruit and spice notes and a little twist of menthol lingering away in the mouth. Will be beautiful in time. Needs patience though - I would give it 10 years at least.
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Pure black cherry color. Pleasantly open and complex nose of spice, mixed berry pie, chocolate, cigar box, and mineral. Quite ripe, yet lacking the depth to carry the alcohol (which is stated at only 13.5%), making the palate seem a bit hollow. The finish is long and creamy, and the tannins are surprisingly integrated. Modern in style, not overly structured, this displays some Margaux finesse that is spoiled by the intrusive alcohol. Overall not bad, yet not up to expectations. This may be in an awkward phase now, but may never improve. I'll try again in five years.
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2005 Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting (Drake Hotel, Chicago, Illinois): 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 5% Petite Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Another 2nd growth Margaux estate that did not do as well as it should have. This was a very good wine but I expected more. On the nose it had some brambly underbrush and cigar box. Dry with some tartness. Notes of cherry and raw meat. I liked the 2003 better. 89-90 points.
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Big, bold and broad shouldered, this structured, cassis, floral, blackberry and anise scented wine has all the stuffing needed to age and develop for decades. This is in the mold of the 86, which remains the finest wine I've tasted from the property.
Really the finest Margaux tasted at the New York event. It managed to combine the diaphanous elegance of Margaux with the substance of Pauillac, but in a very smooth, rather floral fashion. Tasted again in Dusseldorf with consistent notes. A wine for the ages.
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BORDEAUX 2005 / Cabernet rules; 4/5/2006-4/10/2006 (Bordeaux): At first tight and even a tad astringent with some unripe plum notes, but on the palate develops very pure dark cherry flavors and the texture shows quality tannins, a nice palate feel, if tight now. A wine that needs time and shows promise... 89-91+
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2005 Bordeaux en Primeur; 3/26/2006-3/28/2006 (Bordeaux France): En Primeur tasting. Black cherry and currant aromas with cassis. great spice aromas and flavors. Good structure throughout, getting a bit firm on finish. Very good 92-95 potential, but 2015+ forward.
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4/21/2024 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Poured from a 375ml bottle and decanted for 90 minutes. Consumed over the subsequent two hours. Aeration was rewarded on the nose as it opened up into a lovely lady. Wonderful! The finish was a disappointment as it was tight and lean with grainy tannin. The nose did not match the finish. Very typical of the 2005 vintage. What this tells me is that 2005 is the longest lived vintage of the ‘00 decade.
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3/20/2024 - Duncan H wrote: flawed
This had gone
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3/16/2024 - Édifice Likes this wine: 96 Points
Great bouquet of dark berries, blackcurrant, dark berry jam, cedar, mint, undergrowth. Smooth palate, sweet yet firm, with nice acidity and freshness, leading to a long finish of spices, tangy and slightly salty as well as sweet elements. Very balanced. Agree with others that more time will not hurt this wine but great to drink now.
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12/17/2023 - VinhoVerde wrote:
Floral, berry-like aroma. Surprisingly closed and backwardwine. Tannic.
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11/16/2023 - Irish_Wine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Relatively youthful still on nose with a lovely spiced black fruit character. Very dense and compacted on the palate with a plush, fine structure. While this is enjoyable now, it feels like it has much more to give. Would cellar this for a few more years.
WSET Notes:
Deep ruby.
Pronounced on the nose with blackcurrant, blackberry, mint, graphite, cassis, cedar, clove, vanilla, tobacco and leather. Developing.
Pronounced and dry on the palate. Full body, high tannins, high acidity, medium alcohol, long finish.
Can drink now but has potential for ageing.
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11/3/2023 - AVB001 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Double decanted and left for four hours. Well structured with supporting acidity. Yet round and smooth to drink. Very quickly emptied; a good sign. Will develop for another 10-20 years.
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10/22/2023 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark and fragrant nose with notes of cedar, blackberries, sweet fruit, spices, and anise. Good acidity on the palate with still present tannins, but they have started to integrate. Flavors of black cherries, berries, cedar, and tobacco. Quite long on the finish. This was really good and starting to become very approachable, but will surely continue to improve with age.
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10/15/2023 - gout wrote: 93 Points
Lovely well balanced claret, now drinking well
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9/25/2023 - martin_e Likes this wine: 96 Points
Aging of the 2005 vintage has been a complicated story with so many wines still closed and disappointing… Rauzan-Segla is one of the pleasant exceptions that doesn’t require much more time to reach its potential. It’s very enjoyable already: with aromas of smoke and black cherry; and flavors of cassis, slightly unripe plum, and tons of blackberries. Beautifully balanced with velvety structure.
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9/4/2023 - B Paul wrote:
Double decanted and drank over several hours. Silky fruit with cherry and mineral notes. On the early side of its drinking window but will continue to age gracefully.
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6/27/2023 - zimmy07 Likes this wine: 96 Points
wow! Opened in bottle for 4 hours, early on stewed meats and dried sage. Nice but meaty and bulky, opened another 3 hours in bottle and drank over 2 hours and holy crap, this was delightful. Very floral nose of violet and lavender. The Merlot, over 40%, shined through with seductive tannin and silky notes. This wine was just on. Hold for 5 more years or decant for 4-5 hours, one of the most enjoyable wines of the year and I have had some good ones...
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6/18/2023 - Château Merci-Beaucoup wrote: 95 Points
The last bottle I tasted was in 2021.
Now, very very good nose right after pulling the cork!
This wine is best poured from bottle to glass:
Don‘t miss the very best by airing it for hours - no need for this - it will loose aromas.
Wow! Pure silk, violets and cherry.
This is in its perfect drinking window.
A very impressive Margaux-wine.
Luckily I have another 6 if these!
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4/12/2023 - Sean Tay wrote: 95 Points
Pronounced nose intensity with notes of blackberry, toast, spices, leather, vanilla. Medium+ acidity and high tannin. Still youthful and probably have to wait at least 10 years to be on drinking window. Decanted 1 hour which is not enough, min 4 - 5 hours of decanting.
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3/24/2023 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 94 Points
The Four Seasons Tasting 2005 Bordeaux Second Growth (Aubergine Restaurant): (Tasted Blind) Attractive lifted ones of chocolate, mocha, pencil shavings, star anise and cassia root overlaid with a feral element. A full entry displays plenty of black fruit, minerals and farmyard pong. The fruit and fine-grained powdery tannins coat the mid-palate. There is a little more development to the wine making it more approachable. Dark plum, wet tobacco leaves, and liquorice join loganberry and blackcurrant on the mid-palate giving an opulent or rather soft core. Brooding almost robust, this is an intense wine with balancing lively acidity. Again elegant, there is a sensuality that I liked about the wine. Long persistent finish.
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3/2/2023 - Hendmo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Double decanter in the morning, with only a small amount of sediment, then left in bottle with a cork until dinner. Not ideal circumstances perhaps but dictated to by dinner plans.
The nose was surprisingly muted still, but perhaps impacted by the preparation. Palate was medium bodied, with lovely pure blueberry, blackberry and cassis flavours, a hint of iron and violets, still only in the very early drinking window. There was a sneaky intensity/length but I still would have hoped for a bit more weight….maybe the Margaux showing through though as it was still very pretty and refined. Docked a point or two because of the nose that will hopefully come good in time.
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1/7/2023 - Sean Tay wrote: 94 Points
Pronounced nose intensity with notes of red and black fruits, vanilla, flora. Medium+ acidity and medium tannin.
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11/27/2022 - wineforth Likes this wine: 94 Points
6th bottle from a case bought en primeur. Beautiful Margaux nose of mint and violets, then cassis and graphite. Later tobacco and coffee. Very long penetrating finish. This bottle not quite as good as the previous one with the tannins slightly dominating the fruit. This could just be down to the room temperature being rather cold, which is normally fine for older less tannic vintages, but 2005 was a very tannic vintage and whilst the tannins have largely resolved there are enough left to treat the wine like a youngish vintage.
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11/5/2022 - Paul-SA wrote: 92 Points
A little disappointing given the hype on release Very old world. Ery tradition nose and flavor but potentially a little corkage on the nose. Still. Drinking well.
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10/15/2022 - garrigue65 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted seven hours. The wine was very closed for about four hours. Dark fruit and berry. Less tobacco than before. Leather and hints of stone/gravel yielding to a subtle expresso note with long tannic finish. I think this wine is very enjoyable with much life in the cellar. Seems relatively young.
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10/5/2022 - wineappellation Likes this wine: 95 Points
Nice truffle and gamey notes evolving. Elegantly balanced. Sweet oak well absorbed, graphite, floral, berries. Long way to go.
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9/12/2022 - Yagil wrote: 93 Points
BX style: Excellent!
see my previous TN
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8/13/2022 - MarcelloW Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still young, but entering drinking-window. This bottle really should be decanted for a few hours.
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7/12/2022 - pmarlo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deeply stained cork about one fifth infiltrated, but it pulled real solid and didn't push into bottle. Almost no bouquet and very little flavor upon first taste, but definitely structure. Thought it was faded and past its prime. I was mistaken. Had some each day and each day fruit emerged a little bit more, and acidity brightened and lifted wine. Started getting bright cherry about three days open. It wasn't until fifth day that bouquet was present when uncorked. Really active on tongue when swished, and tannins present but not brutal. Feels like beginning of tannin integration. Fruit, while not prominent, is present and on bright side. There is an unknown flavor which comes forward when swished in mouth. Initially felt chemical but it isn't. Feels like unique soil and mineral profile possible unique to wine. This wine only began to really show after five days. Currently there is enough fruit but if further aged, uncertain if it will wane. Hard one to call. Needs lots of aeration even at seventeen years, or age further. Quite nice with steaks and meats and oddly enough chicken stir fry. Like Wineforth's take on this, and other reviewers note tannin structure.
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4/25/2022 - chatters wrote:
En-Primeur campaign for the 2021 vintage; 4/25/2022-4/29/2022 (Bordeaux): Served blind
A little reticent, shows black head fruit – plums, blackcurrant, a little leafy note, and some leather tertiariness. Freshly juicy, black hued fruits, talc textured tannins, plums, slight alcohol warmth and a sense of thickness. Okay.
I got stuck between 2005 and 2000 and plumped for the latter because of that leathery note.
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4/17/2022 - mchern02 wrote: 93 Points
3 hour decant
Quite a perfuming nose of spice, burnt cigar, violets, lilacs, wet cedar, mint and a touch of anise; not really getting any fruit. Palate is still youthful with punchy acidity and youthful tannins but not a depth in body or hints of any finesse. The nose is far more mature than the palate and I could smell it for hours; body leaves something to be desired but think it either needs more time or never comes around. 92/93
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3/22/2022 - ctjared wrote:
was expecting more.....was open for a while and started to improve
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3/22/2022 - Tao wrote: 92 Points
Rather closed and tight at the moment, dark purplish ruby red in colour! Tannic and ripe, spicy dark fruits palate, needs time!
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3/16/2022 - 87tellub Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pnp from a 375. Dark garnet. Somewhat evolved, but pleasant nose of tobacco, old leather, some back-end spice, some dark prune. Palate has a lot of structure here, quite chewy. Very alive, with dark berries.
Plenty of life ahead, as in decades (plural), give it a decant if drinking anytime soon. This is excellent. I need to buy more Bordeaux.
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3/12/2022 - Édifice Likes this wine: 96 Points
Bouquet of blackberries, pencil, liquor, undergrowth. Smooth, medium-bodied palate, juicy berries, inky feel of a younger wine, acidity, leading to a long finish. Fantastically elegant wine but still feels young, in need of 2-3 years to further round out, although a pleasure to drink already. Better on the second night.
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11/20/2021 - garrigue65 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for about four hours, probably two hours should suffice. Still had tannins and acidity so this wine has plenty more time in the cellar. Dark fruit with some fig and tobacco with silky tannins through a moderate finish.
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10/21/2021 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium ruby. A very beautiful black cherry, cassis, mint bouquet, and a hint of nutmeg. Tannins still providing quite a bite, otherwise a fairly silky texture, with fairly ripe blackberry flavours, and lots of savoury spices, that of black pepper, nutmeg and cloves, and even having a bit of dried meat. Long, fruit and spice driven finish. Great wine! Still some potential to age further
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10/6/2021 - NickA wrote: 94 Points
Deep Dive Bordeaux: Gravel vs. Limestone (67 Pall Mall TV): 55% CS, 39% M, 6% PV, 6% CF - the proportion of CS used by the estate has since increased.
Quite well-developed - surprisingly so, in fact - with game, smoke and blood, like a well-hung grouse. Lovely silky mouthfeel - really nice to drink. Tangy, violet-accented finish. Wonderful with my cheeseboard, probably even better with a ribeye. Sexy wine!
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9/14/2021 - dlcolester wrote: 89 Points
Very disappointed missing the softness of a grave and even after 18 years still taste and feels like a very young wine. Started softening somewhat after 4 to 5 hours. Over priced for this wine
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8/20/2021 - Mapka1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Good soon after opening and better after 1 hr decant. Berries, tannins and earthly. Medium body nice finish
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7/17/2021 - NMIZ Likes this wine: 94 Points
Medium+ body. Smooth and fine. Sweet tannins. Balanced. Long finish. Opened up after 2 hours. Excellent.
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7/8/2021 - Romol Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 2,5 hours. Still young but already very good. At the moment I would recommend to decant it at least 3 hours. I think this will improve with more age. 93+ pts.
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5/25/2021 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine:
Coravin sample.
Cassis, plums with secondary aromas, Rich fruit, great lenght, decent acidity and fine grained but not quite yet resolved tannin. Needs more time.
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5/2/2021 - Cbremme wrote:
Parker 95
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4/18/2021 - ThalesGaspar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great at this point!
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3/14/2021 - Shaggy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Now this was something of a mystery on the first night. It opened up with a marvellous nose immediately after opening, so we didn’t decant after reading some other notes here. Big mistake! After about 15 minutes it was flat on the palate and musty and dark on the nose. A roller coaster over the next hour or so, and really not enjoyable, we put a cork inthe remaining half a bottle for the next night.
Night two and here we go. Consistly lovely nose and delicious drinking over an hour or so. I’ll keep my hand of the remaining bottles for a four or five years I think.
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3/7/2021 - VinVet Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Muted cassis nose. Dark berry fruit, adequate acidity and prominent tannins are all present in sufficient quantity but not in balance as of yet. Although considered a notable vintage I think this needs more time to come together. Notable improvement in the glass as the evening progressed. Juxtaposed to the considered lesser vintage 2004 it was paired with this evening it showed promise but also the need for more time in the bottle.
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2/28/2021 - redhead6971 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Anton’s Wine Tasting Notes
Winery: Château Rauzan-Ségla
Varietal: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
Area/Appellation: France, Bordeaux, Margaux
Vintage: 2005. Price: $145 Secondary market.
Color: Opaque almost black, very slight browning on the rim
Legs: slow to medium
Nose: earthy loam, black truffles, cedar, black currants, blackberry,
Palate: black berries, currants, cassis, tobacco leaf, now sage, cedar, rich dark Margaux soil and truffles and leather.
Finish: smoothed out tannins lots of black dark fruits and oak and tobacco and leather, very well kept, everything fruit acids in balance
Comments: Great acidity considering it is 15 plus years old.
However, the depth and concentration that was there 2 years ago has waned, after a 2 hour glass decant which was not needed.. Judging from my fellow CT’ers, I think we have a little bottle variance going on here. It smelled remarkable upon opening. I recommend Pop ‘n’ Pour at this point in time. It is still an incredible wine.
Pairing Suggestions: BBQ boneless pork loin ribs, roast lamb with garlic and rosemary, roast beast, veal, venison you get the picture
Score in terms of Vintage: 94
Score for the Wine: 94
Value for the Money: Excellent
Date Tasted: 02/21/2021
Tasted by: AcK
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2/13/2021 - Édifice Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bouquet of ripe blue- and blackberries, roasted peppers, wet tobacco, undergrowth, first night more muted, more open second night. Balanced palate with quite an amount of freshness and subtle sweetness, some spices, relatively long finish with fine tannins, spices and minerals. Relatively lean but still lush. Feels like further upside from getting just a 95 to a good 95.
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1/31/2021 - wineappreciation wrote: 92 Points
Unripe blackberry, gravel, leather, figs, expressive nose; smooth, silky, yet substantial with good structure and long finish; initially somewhat tight but elegant and pleasing; after a couple of hours still similar but becomes more muted
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1/31/2021 - Château Merci-Beaucoup wrote: 91 Points
The most impressive experience was the nose immediatly after having slowly pulled the cork and when pouring this dark juice from the bottle in the glass: Rich and warm aromas of old leather, barnyard and black truffle, and a hint of violets. Wow, what an erotic moment! I was sure that this was going to be a very tasty wine.
But after 1 hour in the decanter, these aromas were sadly much weaker and less impressive, the make-up was almost gone. So I doubt that decanting is recommended: You might miss the very hottest moments of pleasure!
In the palate it was always very silky and smooth, the tannins well integrated, but it could not quite live up to the beginning’s sexy nose, behaving a bit flat and shy. Half of the (not decanted) bottle we drank on the next day: Still very pleasant. Will the palate become more impressive over the years? I hope so!
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1/18/2021 - D'Yquembe Mutumbo wrote: 92 Points
Young, but not a baby, this has entered its early drinking window and has a fantastic nose that you could sell to me as a candle and I would buy a yearly subscription. Earthy, floral, spicy, liqueur and a whole lot of cedar made this an absolute pleasure to swirl and sniff. Unfortunately, this was the highlight of the experience, as the palate just didn't ever really come together over 4 hours of tasting. Tannic, acidic, a bit fruit forward although you could make out the minerals and balance as time went on, this is probably going to be a better experience in 2027 but is it going to be worth the wait?
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12/24/2020 - Spargel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose with cherry, leather, dust, but not very strong. On palate quite young and aggressive given age, high level of acidity - borderline to sour. Dark fruits, tannins coming to the surface, spices, petroleum. Overall solid, but price/quality out of balance, far too expensive.
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12/15/2020 - Vino Monkeys Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deepest ruby. Moderately intense, developed aromas of black currant, stewed dark fruit, old leather, mushroom and forest floor. Graphite and a hint of cigar box. Silky smooth, moderate tannins are balanced by medium to medium high acid. The flavors and tannins are well integrated, perhaps slightly more so then I expected from this 15-year-old. Medium long finish. This will, of course, age for years, but I’m not sure it will improve much. I think it’s ready to go now. I popped and poured this one, so there’s a chance things will open up a bit with a little air.
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11/8/2020 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 92 Points
2005 Château Rauzan-Ségla Margaux. Sharp mid-garnet, brick edges; berry, cocoa, smoke and wood nose (54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Petite Verdot, 1% Cab Franc); mid-body; balanced; mid-tannins; softening; improves with air; long round smooth finish. 17 UC Davis scale, 92 other scales.
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11/3/2020 - jkvedar wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Graphite and old library books on the nose. There is a faint floral hint too. Dried dark fruits and licorice on the palate. The finish is very long. Excellent showing right now.
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11/2/2020 - europat55 wrote: 92 Points
Nose: B++/A- Palate: B++/A- Tasted blind.
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10/31/2020 - jmoon Likes this wine: 93 Points
Black, very dark! No decant. As expected lost some fruit, good length... Graphite, plums, black currants. Classic mature Bordeaux. Preference for it 5 yrs ago when showing a bit more fruit, but good graphite character with food. A little more serious now. Funny how wines mirror us. Med body, no rush, will age gracefully for 10 yrs. hopefully I do also.
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10/24/2020 - dnnk88 wrote: 91 Points
Saturyay Chill'!: This was not bad, as I have not quite tasted a Rauzan to my palate. Should improve with more time. 91/92
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10/5/2020 - Radders12345 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rauzan Segla 2005
Second bottle of this. Drinking well now.
Nose is fabulous: plum, blackcurrant, powdery violets, cedar, black truffle and some forest floor. Palate is a bit thinner in body than you might expect but delivers on the nose with a high acidity and fine but present tannins
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9/28/2020 - tomlee wrote: 95 Points
Decanted at cellar temperature for 5 hours. Crimson in color. 13.5% ABV. Classic nose of black fruits, cigar box, graphite and leather. Medium to full bodied with tremendous acidity. Powerful and concentrated with structure in spades. Copious dark fruits. Truffles, currants, crème de cassis and earth on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish with the silky tannins. Tremendous wine from an appellation that truly excelled in 2005. Just entering what should be a long drinking window. This will drink well for at least another decade if not longer.
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9/25/2020 - Axelpeter wrote: 93 Points
Oliver Mus) Reif und Kräftig, herber Charm mit Finesse
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9/21/2020 - Jean-Philippe M Likes this wine:
C'était le plus (jeune) des vins dans nos verres. Une bombe de fruit, belle finesse en bouche, aucun nez par contre. La bouche est suave, c'est velouté, c'est fin, peu de personnalité à la Bordeaux, mais plaisir immense à boire ce vin.
4/5
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9/19/2020 - nmichaud1 Likes this wine:
On dirait encore un bébé avec une explosion de fruit. C'est très sexy Bordeaux, sans avoir une personnalité bien à elle. Peut-être que la typicité des 2 vins précédents ont altéré mon jugement. Ceci étant dit, que du plaisir en bouteille!!
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8/14/2020 - garrigue65 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Five hour decant. Dark fruit, earth, cedar, long finish with significant tannins. Hints of anise on the finish.
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8/6/2020 - garrigue65 wrote:
This was interesting. Opened and over the first hour crushed violets on nose. Notes of bright cherry, cedar, earth. After the four hour decant the wine was served and was closed. Almost no fruit, obtrusive tannins on the finish. The wine was very austere and not very enjoyable.
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7/26/2020 - richardkim Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cassis, violets, as well as secondary characteristics of leather and wood, with a lively acidity and fine tannins. Medium bodied. This is entering a long drinking window, and is very nice now.
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7/15/2020 - SARED wrote: 92 Points
Out of 375. cassis, blackberry, tart currants, hit of smoke and cedar. Medium bodied with fresh acidity. Wine hasn't peaked, but I find it enjoyable now. I still get a little spike of rough alcohol on the finish, otherwise would be 93+.
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7/12/2020 - wineforth Likes this wine: 95 Points
At 15 this is still only just ready to drink. Beautiful Margaux nose of violets, then cassis and graphite. Later tobacco. Long penetrating finish. Will drink well for another 15 years.
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6/26/2020 - Sean Tay wrote:
Blackberry, cassis, perfumed flora, spices, cedar. High tannins and acidity. It is still very young to consumed even after 15 years of bottling. It's a very good vintage. This wine will probably start drinking well after 10-15 years later.
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5/7/2020 - dlcass Likes this wine: 94 Points
Better on day 2! Youthful with vibrant acidity and texture. Amazing aromatics; nose of tart berry, graphite, dried flowers, forest floor. Full mouth feel and nice finish. Elevates on the palate.
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3/22/2020 - G_H wrote: 93 Points
Still very young but in a first drinking window. Lots of oak, bread crust, fresh, fairly elegant, balanced, feminine, green plums, good acidity.
I will keep my hands off my further bottles
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3/12/2020 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 95 Points
30+ minute decant. One of the best noses ever!! Super complex with floral tones, graphite, and cherry fruit. Wine is refined and fruit forward. More high end Napa than French Bordeaux. Medium finish. Love it’s uniqueness.
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2/23/2020 - mchern02 wrote: 93 Points
Two and a half hour decant
Great flowery nose with violet, rose petals, eucalyptus and dark fruit; muscular body with light acidity, still tight tannins and medium-plus length finish
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1/25/2020 - Édifice Likes this wine: 95 Points
Stylish, subtle bouquet of dark fruit preserve, roasted bell pepper, vanilla, undergrowth. First night a bit thin, better with food and time. Second night medium-bodied, fresh and minty, sweet, spicy, smooth, relatively long. A very enjoyable, low key yet still intellectual, subtle Bordeaux. Very perfumed. Would say still early in the drinking window with some improvement potential, as the last glass was the best.
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11/27/2019 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 89 Points
A little tart and sour
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11/14/2019 - Wineaux67 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very nice but still young. Needs at least a 3 hour decant at this time. Probably another 5 to 10 years in the bottle is best.
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11/5/2019 - Levinsb wrote: 95 Points
Day one was tightctannic and unpleasant.
Day two was goirgeous red and black fruits. Soft and smoky.
A classic Bdx wine with much room to run. Beautiful.
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10/6/2019 - acyso wrote: 85 Points
Vinetasters: 2005 Bordeaux 2nd Growths (Skokie, IL): Served double blind. Relatively lighter on the nose, with a slight bit of char and some sweet red fruit. The palate shows a cough syrup component, with fairly coarse tannins that aren’t resolved at all. Very chewy and grainy, this leaves you with a somewhat leathery texture. A slight hint of overripeness on the palate here as well. My 8th, group's 7th.
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10/4/2019 - steinersing wrote: 93 Points
Good but still lots of tannins - need to open ahead if drinking now
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9/6/2019 - sdr Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Many 2005 Bordeaux are in a sullen phase but even accounting for that I don’t have much hope for this one. Not terrible but dry and pruny.
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7/6/2019 - mchern02 Likes this wine: 94 Points
1 hour decant
Entering a nice drinking window now and very youthful and fresh. Aromas of black currant, dark fresh fruit, pencil shavings, and nice violet scents. Medium soft palate with fantastic weight and acidity. Nice finish with medium length and a lot of freshness which makes this a great winner.
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5/31/2019 - BRSAustinTex Likes this wine: 94 Points
WOW! Very balanced with great structure and acid. Even better after 3 hrs. Definitely has a long life ahead of it and one of the best values of 2005.
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5/25/2019 - wineforth Likes this wine: 94 Points
At last the 05's are fully ready. 4th bottle from a case bought en primeur. Blackcurrant and oak nose. Mocha and tobacco on the palate and huge finish. Lots of medium to soft tannins. Balanced and harmonious. Drink over the next 8 years. Lovely.
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3/27/2019 - VinVet Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cassis, blackberry and barnyard nose. Lovely dark berry fruit balanced acidity and modest tannins on the palate. Lengthy warm finish. Yum!!
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3/23/2019 - Édifice Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fine bouquet. Very elegant, balanced wine, subtle, fine tannins, nice spiciness. Sufficient structure and grip not too simple, with a long finish. An incredibly pleasant wine to drink, not shooting out the lights, but all the elements fall in place, everything is in harmony. Clearly in early drinking window and no reason to wait.
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2/25/2019 - SARED wrote: 91 Points
91-92. Slightly astringent on the finish. Also really young. Can see score going to 92-93 with more time. Out of a 375.
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2/3/2019 - mischwine wrote: 92 Points
wonderful drink - decanted for 4 hours prior to drinking -- balanced, velvety in superb Bordeaux fashion...
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2/3/2019 - ThauA wrote:
Great!
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1/25/2019 - murkybird Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful texture and feels as though it is just arriving to a long drinking window. Mostly primary currant and blackberry fruit with emerging tobacco and graphite impressions and a little wood spice. Good posture with subtle grip and some dusty tannins on the finish. It is not stern and closed, it has the nervous energy of youth.
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11/30/2018 - robertek wrote: 91 Points
Needs air. Good, stable but quite closed.
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10/22/2018 - Romol Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 2.5 hours. Still pretty young but already a very good wine. I guess this will improve with 5-7 more years. 93 pts at the moment.
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9/3/2018 - Alvarovazquez wrote: 94 Points
A rounded, exceptionally well integrated wine. The terroir is present along with traditional Margaux notes in nose and mouth. Ready to drink or keep for another five- seven years.
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6/30/2018 - robertek wrote: 93 Points
Great performance this vintage to this domaine that is so improved over the last 5 or so years. Really nice to drink now although will ofc hold for years to come.
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5/13/2018 - 1961Vintage wrote: 91 Points
Still very young...in fact too young. Needed a longer decant than we were able to accommodate. Still very closed at the nose, but opened with air. Cant wait to try this in another 10 years.
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5/1/2018 - *Vine* wrote:
Forward aromatics of black fruits, black currant, pencil lead and a touch of funk from brett. Decent concentration, shows the vintage. Seamlessly integrated and impeccably balanced, this 2005 is surprisingly open and accessible, with lovely flavors mirroring the nose and lingering through on the persistent close. Outstanding.
Some might consider this to be of a more modern style than traditional; regardless, it's archetypal Margaux and a beautiful example at that.
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4/20/2018 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice. Not overly tannic at this age, but still better with air.
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3/28/2018 - dase13 wrote: 92 Points
Bought as a future / en premiere, in cellar since delivery.
Color of medium red. Scents and tastes consistent....blackberry, blueberry, currant, and smooth tannin.
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3/11/2018 - PSPatrick wrote: 93 Points
The wine was dark ruby in colour and offered shy floral notes, dark fruit, lots of new oak influence, spices, some chocolate, some vanilla, some coconut, pencil shaving and a hint of mint on the nose. On the palate, the wine showed dark fruit, cassis, blackberry, plum, oak, spices, coffee, chocolate, some vanilla and a hint of coconut, complemented by a floral component, with medium to medium-plus acidity, smooth, ripe tannin, a good mouthfeel and very good length. The ripe (but by no means overripe), medium-bodied, modern-style Bordeaux became smooth and balanced after three hours of aeration. The oak was quite prominent and the wine reminded of modern-style Rioja in its ripeness and oakiness. A great wine that showed tremendous potential, but it will need a lot of time in the cellar to develop and integrate the different components. While this is an outstanding Bordeaux with lots of promise for the future, an affordable, mature 1997 Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux was actually more pleasant to drink at the wines' current stages.
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1/14/2018 - ledwards wrote: 92 Points
Understated and reserved. Quite balanced and subtle- perhaps coming out of a slight slumber. Palate was primarily dark fruit with a small strain of graphite.
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11/18/2017 - Spargel Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for 2 hrs. Nose initially developing very well (dark fruits), over time losing power somewhat. On palate very earthy, still fresh, with strong, but balanced tannins.
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11/17/2017 - Weinlakai wrote: 96 Points
Stellar bottle. In a perfect place right now. Elegance, freshness, structure and fruit complexity, all in one harmonious composition. Tannins are round, but promise a bright future.
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11/2/2017 - kenv Likes this wine: 94 Points
WCC Margaux AOC Blind Tasting (Home of Chef Andrew Plummer, East Greenbush, NY): [Double-decanted at 7am.] Muted nose but stunning and expansive in the mouth. Complex. Wonderful wine just reaching its plateau of maturity. Tied for Group #2 WOTN.
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10/28/2017 - nwebstar Likes this wine: 94 Points
A little more satisfying than last tasting - and still limited breathing. A little more fruit and depth apparent. Still very fresh with dark fruits and classic cassis flavour. A little mineral purity but rounded at same time. Actually showed well straight after the 2009 (vertical tasting) I thought in retrospect - easy to have been overshadowed. Very enjoyable.
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6/16/2017 - Collector1855 wrote: 95 Points
During a Cab Sav Dinner. Finally, after few bottles that showed excessive heat and made me question this Cru's 2005 offering, we had a good bottle at today's session. Nose of dark fruit with Medoc spicy Margaux notes, earth. Medium bodied with good tannins, on the young side still, classic and very drinkable with food. Early, decant for 1h.
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5/28/2017 - nwebstar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Quite classic Bordeaux. Elegant, dry, a good dark fruited backbone and a clean finish. Probably not given enough air time to fully develop.
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3/12/2017 - uchronia Likes this wine:
Second time trying this 2005 vintage of Rauzan-Segla, the experience was a bit subdued and seemed closed down even after several hours of decanting. This one is still evolving, so will save final bottle at least until 2021 before trying again.
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3/11/2017 - Ianthemac Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very short decant but extremely good. Well integrated but still firm tannins. Dark colour with bags of fruit. Will be immense in 4-5 years.
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1/27/2017 - pakabear Likes this wine: 93 Points
Initially the nose had the classic Bordeaux funk, intense, earthy, farm fields, tobacco, dark red fruits. Dark red fruits on the attack, red currants, lead pencil, nice acidity from the mid-palate on. This is drinking really nice, but honestly needs another 5 years to enter it's best drinking window. Very good!
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11/19/2016 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 92 Points
After a rather tight and closed showing of this wine a few months ago, decided to open the wine 12 hours (cork put back) before a 1h decant. Considerably softer and rounder than last time but still rather muted on nose and palate with nice sous bois, red and dark fruit and a gentle touch of oak. Compared to a 09 Giscours we drank next to it, this impressed with a restrained but regal palate where the Giscours seemed somewhat vulgar with excessive oak dominating the rich fruit. Hold for another 3-4 years. 92+
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10/30/2016 - kr522 wrote: 92 Points
Started slow, definitely better after 30 minutes. at first the tannins are very grippy but they do soften with aeration, and that allows dark fruit and baking spices to emerge. There's good life in the finish
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10/30/2016 - jmoon Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very enjoyable on opening, black currant, spice, Dark fruits. Benefited from 2 hour decant, superb w beef. Medium bodied and drinking very well, will go another 5+ years but worth it now, just lovely.
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9/29/2016 - kenv Likes this wine: 93 Points
WCC Blind Tasting of Red Bordeaux 2000-2009 (Home of Chef Andy Plummer, East Greenbush, NY): Ripe black fruit in the nose and mouth. Quite young, but a lot of promise here. Tied for Group #2 WOTN. 92-94
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9/10/2016 - gregbohn Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank alongside pasta with spicy Italian sausage. This was a nice combination and the wine is showing well, given a couple hour decant. Got even better as the evening progressed. Only had one bottle, but if I were to do it again would probably double the decanting time. Both wife and I enjoyed.
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9/3/2016 - alion wrote:
Mahogany dominates a spicy dark nose. Slightly thin on the palate. Out of balance for now - where's the fruit from the vintage? Tannins still dominate a slightly bitter finish. This bottle was closed and I could not coax anything much out of it. V different from a few years ago. Hopefully not out of balance for the longer term. Not rating.
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8/18/2016 - yinha Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted an hour and further time in the glass during a leisurely dinner. Open up steadily during the evening. Enjoyed it with fine Shanghainese cuisine. Memorable, elegant. Look forward to trying again a few years down the road.
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7/23/2016 - wineforth Likes this wine: 95 Points
There is an alternative to waiting a couple of years before drinking this wine. Drink it on a hot day. 30 deg centig is perfect. Big violets and dark cherry nose. Coffee, savoury, complex flavours. Plenty of soft /medium tannins. Hugely long finish. The hint of over extraction is falling out with time. Superb.
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7/19/2016 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 93 Points
Two Coravin'ed glasses at different occasions. Dark garnet with translucent rim. Deep and complex nose with soil, herbs and tobacco leaves, on the palate this has concentrated fruit, still a bit of the oak and while not unpleasant to drink, the wine is tight as a fist with medium (-) tannins. Nice now (91-92) but will be certainly show much better with another 3-4 years in bottle (93-94?), or perhaps also now with a long decant.
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7/4/2016 - MarkWhite Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is not the most structured or sophisticated Rauzan I have ever had, but it is one of the most fun to drink. It is also coming into its own as a the fruit is hitting more front and center as some of the oakiness prevalent when younger peels off. The aromas that include some elegant but spicy cherry mixed with some distinctive smokiness and minerality indicate that even more earthy complexity will be forthcoming from the wine with more age. The cherry flavors really hit the front palate pleasantly, the game, earthy, coffee and black cherry flavors dominate the back palate into a long, structured finish. Still hefty with tannins, the 2005 Rauzan has the acidity to back them up and balance nicely, insuring the silkiness in finish that is characteristic of Marguax. A really nice example of mid priced Margaux and a fine compliment to spicier or meatier meals.
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12/20/2015 - kr522 wrote: 93 Points
Tasted during a long night of drinking of mixed wines so give me a little latitude: I'm mostly recording the score for posterity. Deep, lush dark fruits maybe mixing some tobacco in. It has exuberance but not showing quite as much complexity as I expected.
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12/8/2015 - mygrogro wrote: 92 Points
First taste of the case
smokey bouquet
smooth sour cherry and mineral start
tannic young grape finish
needs 2 hr decanting
enjoy going forward
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11/12/2015 - MarcelloW Likes this wine: 93 Points
Six hours in the decanter. Very smooth and elegant. A lovely Margaux that will even be better in 5 years. 94+
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9/25/2015 - garrigue65 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a big bold Margaux requiring patience and a long decant of at least 2 hours. Still lots of chewy tannins will not try again for 2 plus years.
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9/18/2015 - FamilyLarsson wrote: 93 Points
Över förväntan. En riktigt bra Bordeaux.
Gjorde tyvärr inga noteringar.
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8/9/2015 - wineforth Likes this wine: 93 Points
Was still too young 18 months ago. Today it proved the adage that you should drink young wines in the summer. Tannin was less evident on a hot day but still a huge structured wine. Sweet dark blackcurrant and oak. Will improve further over the next few years and will then have a long life ahead.
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8/6/2015 - Romol Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 2.5 hours. Very good wine. Still young, needs a few more years. But it is already delicious. 93(-) pts.
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7/9/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 94 Points
Tasted next to a 2014 barrel sample. Quite backward, a bit closed on the nose with notes of graphite, tobacco, hints of dark fruit, smoke. Impressive balance on the palate. Fresh, round, grippy, slightly drying tannins. Great finish. Needs more time. 93-94+
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7/6/2015 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
Medium purple. Discrete nose of sweet spices, dark fruit with very nice Margaux typicity. On the palate this is a medium bodied wine with lively acidity and still young structure. This needs at least till 2018/20 to be in a good drinking window. Will be an elegant and fragrant wine I am sure. This was confirmed when I kept the wine in the fridge and it significantly improved over the next two days. Wait. 93-95
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7/5/2015 - pmarlo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Good pull on 10 year old cork and integrity good, no degradation. Very soft wine, could barely tell where the fruit was. Acidity more prominent. Cherry flavor also. Wasn't impressed and disappointed that this didn't live up to the hype. But the next day it got a lot better, exponentially so. Very polished wine now, fruit has emerged, wonderful balance. This wine has a lot of life left. Drinking now you will need a good day decant. These French 2005 wines have a lot of guts and require time.
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6/28/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
Showing some lightness in color, with truffle, tobacco, earth, cigar box, licorice and black fruits in the nose. Sleepy, but not closed, this structured, age worthy wine needs serious air or another 5-10 years, before it truly starts to show all its considerable, soft, supple charms and complexities.
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5/25/2015 - TLR Likes this wine: 93 Points
4 hour decant and drank over 3 hours. dusty smooth but a bit disjointed with a very nice spine of tannins. This is an infant and will develop layers of complexity over time. Definitely not the #2 wine status given by Wine Spectator but more in the line with the Tanzer Review.
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5/12/2015 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 94 Points
The bouquet displayed dark red fruits with mineral-laden soil, undergrowth, and dark florals It was more forward and engaging on the nose than from my last experience, yet it was still brooding and quite classic. The palate showed power and grace with dried berry and earthy minerals backed by fine tannin, which coated the palate through the close, yet its pure and focused fruit remained upon the senses. Gorgeous—classic.
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5/2/2015 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Hitting it's stride and what a delight! Deep garnet color with a nose of cassis, current plum and a whiff of anise.
Several years of terrific drinking still ahead.
if a date, this was a 23 year old MBA student who can discuss Forbes articles over Sunday morning coffee in bed.
C'est tres bon!
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4/26/2015 - TexasBob Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted blind. Pretty medium garnet red. Lots of depth on the nose - grape bubble gum and a sense that the wine is as deep as the ocean. Notes of dusty hay, red fruits, vanillin.
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4/15/2015 - rpenn77 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delightful left bank wine
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3/30/2015 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 94 Points
2005 Bordeaux Retrospective (Morrell Wine, 1 Rockefeller Plaza): The nose showed cedar and spice up front, followed by dark red fruits, undergrowth, floral tones and herbs. It was silky-smooth on the palate, with dark red fruit and remarkable finesse leaving an impression of seamless balance. The finish showed dried red berry, mineral-laden soil and undergrowth with fine tannin in a truly classic expression of Bordeaux. Bury this in your cellar and reap the rewards for decades to come.
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3/13/2015 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 94 Points
A strong showing. Decanted 2+ hours. Dark in color, concentrated. Nose of dark currant, blackberry, violets, cigar, and espresso. Solid on the mid-palate. Tannins still need integration. This is still holding back a bit, and needs a few years of cellaring.
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3/12/2015 - drjb Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep crimson-red. Beautiful nose, initially reticent, but opened in the decanter over an hour to reveal blackcurrant, bilberry, cherry and write flowers. Touches of dark chocolate and liquorice. Palate intense and soft simultaneously with great mouthfeel and length. Very fine balance - this is a great 2005 very much in the classic Margaux mold.
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12/15/2014 - dransford wrote:
Excellent. Needs a few hour decant at this point and best days are ahead, but plenty good now. I wish the nose had more on offer but the palate and finish were fantastic with tannins still unresolved but very present.
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11/24/2014 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very nice blackberry, chocolate, great black fruit on the nose. Dried flowers, perfume, hint of must, a bit of pepper also on the nose. Blackberry, blueberry, creme de cassis flavors. Acid medium plus. Medium weight. Hint of mushroom flavors. Quite young, but delicious. This wine has great potential. I am a big fan.
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5/30/2014 - alion wrote: 94 Points
Stored in natural cellar so may be more developed than other recent notes. 2 hours air but came alive after 3. Wonderful traditional blackcurrant on the nose. But it is the Merlot which stars - fleshy, blueberry on the palate. Elegant, long finish, everything understated. Less sense of the oak, and less dark than I am used to from here. Obviously young and with more to come - but still so easy to drink tonight.
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3/12/2014 - yofog wrote: 92 Points
Really tannic, more so than I expect from here, but there's finesse in there, and red fruit complexity and freshness, smoke, and tobacco among all the dark fruit.
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3/1/2014 - robertdtwo wrote: 92 Points
Two-hour Vinturi decant and rebottle for transit to restaurant with one hour slow-ox. I really wanted to rate this as an improvement over last try two-and-a-half years ago, but...even though some secondaries are starting to come forward (smoke, tobacco & sous-bois), the overall mouthfeel sense is that this is just a bit, well, thin. Well-balanced, medium finish; nothing wrong here, but I was hoping for more as this nears the decade mark.
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2/18/2014 - JonnyG wrote: 91 Points
A bit flat relative to expectations, with inadequate depth of flavor
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2/3/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
At close to 10 years of age, secondary notes of smoke, tobacco, caramel, blackberry, forest floor and cassis are easy to find. Long, fresh and balanced, there is a beautiful sense of purity in the fruit that pairs perfectly with the soft, ripe tannins in the finish. Still young, this is only starting to wake up and should age gracefully for at least 2 decades or more.
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1/19/2014 - Yagil wrote: 92 Points
Bordeaux tasting at Wine-Route, Savion branch (Wine-Route, Savion branch): Dark red purple
Rich ripe black fruits aroma with vanilla oak
Full bodied, integrated tannins, good acidity, well balanced, vanilla oak and bitter flavors, long finish.
Requires further ageing.
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1/18/2014 - scott w wrote: 94 Points
Very good bottle and took an hour or two to open, crushed flowers and earth on the nose. Taste leather raspberry mushroom earth, nicely layered with some drying tannin on the finish.
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12/29/2013 - Stefanos T. Likes this wine: 93 Points
I really liked this wine although in reality it was sampled rather than drank. It had an ethereal nose of kirsch and strawberry -almost burgundian- together with leather nuances and some green notes. Fluid texture, medium bodied but concentrated flavor-wise with tannins left to shed.
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12/5/2013 - G_H Likes this wine: 92 Points
Far too young, very elegant, classic feminine Margaux...
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11/29/2013 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 97 Points
Over the past two years this has really developed. Rose petals, tobacco, gravel pit, blackberry, leather, spice, jasmine and sliced mushroom. More tobacco than last time and a little cedar on the long and beyond silky finish. Silky is the name of the game here and not a vacuous point at all on this elegantly curvy goddess. The colour is very '05 in depth and style. Wait a couple more years or decant for at least two hours - which I did. See previous notes. Drink 2016 -.
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8/9/2013 - cab blends wrote: 89 Points
S&E Wine Club - French Bordeaux Night (Our House): The cabernet comes through nicely over the merlot. Definite Left bank but I wonder if it is currently a little closed (Finish was not perfectly smooth). Nice oaky nose with a hint of crushed strawberry. Dry tannins (7/10) with the petit verdot coming through strongly in the finish. NS 92
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4/8/2013 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
2012 En Primeur - Kelly and Kevin’s excellent adventure; 4/4/2013-4/9/2013 (Bordeaux, France): There are some back vintages in this tasting. This is a superb wine. Still very youthful but a hint of secondary notes, black fruits, lead pencil, a hint of cedar and earth. Excellent concentration and structure. I wouldn’t be surprised if this will be equal or better than the 86.
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3/18/2013 - Thracian Alvarinho Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted blind. This is a great Rauzan Segla. Superb balance and great ripennes.
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2/23/2013 - cadamson Likes this wine: 94 Points
Massive structure built for the long haul. Drying tannins make it hard to drink much now, but delicious fruit (not a fruit bomb), cedar, tobacco and other aroma's and tastes give complexity. Can just imagine this being fantastic in 10-20 years.
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12/27/2012 - Sovinator Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank with Christmas dinner. Have to admit that this was a decent, but disappointing bottle. Had purchased this after an extensive Bordeaux tasting where Rauzan was the best in show. Would suggest waiting a few more years as the wine was a bit shut down now, and lacking in the depth and complexity one would expect.
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11/17/2012 - clutj wrote: 94 Points
Great, soft, smooth, deep, tobacco
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10/21/2012 - jjdd wrote:
Gave as a gift to Aaron
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9/18/2012 - clairenclarence wrote: 93 Points
nice lean body.veri well structuture.rather youthful but yet with evident secondary notes.decant arnd 4 hrs but stil with solid structure.tings tat tis bttl lack is complexity.overall comments:anice bttl of wine tat nd lots time
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6/2/2012 - winelegends.net wrote:
Viel Potential 92-95
Sehr schönes dunkles Kirschrot,dass violette Reflexe offenbart.
Ja,Ersteindruck ist schon noch zugeknöpft.
Eiche,eine leicht ätherische Note,Leder momentan schwarzfruchtig.
Gerbstoffe doch schon gut verträglich.
Mikroschluck tendiert zu Kirsche.
Also Vorwurf von zuwenig Frucht kann man ihm,mit genügend Luft nicht wirklich machen.Changiert doch zwischen schwarzfr. bis zu Himbeeren und Kirsche, relativ stark.Florales, Veilchen,sowie erdig,würziges können dem zwischendurch auftauchenden Eicharomen,problemlos Paroli bieten.
Insgesamt doch recht dicht gewoben,mit langem rotfruchtigem leicht prägenden Abgang
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3/18/2012 - vinopa wrote: flawed
Corked :(
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6/19/2011 - robertdtwo wrote: 92 Points
Forty-five minute decant at restaurant; wasn't long enough...should be decanted perhaps 3 hours. Restrained nose. Dark fruit and floral components there, but require a bit of a search. Slighty thin mouthfeel, medium finish. HOLD, as I expected a bit more, and am confident bottle time will deliver more to those who wait.
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5/24/2011 - Matt Scott wrote: 97 Points
Chateau Rauzan-Segla Vertical Tasting and Chateau Canon with John Kolasa (Mariposa - Honolulu, HI): This truly draws you in on all aspects. Violets, blackberry, musk, leather, spice and tobacco leaf. Proportioned mushroom and berry on the palate. A one minute-plus finish and a true echo affect. This oozing, elegant Rauzan is their flagship in an insatiable and seamless fashion. The softest of tannin that really coats your palate. My favorite of the night and this is progressing in a mesmerizing way. Oh my.... Drink 2017-.
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1/31/2011 - the player wrote: 92 Points
Definitely needs a lot more time in the cellar. Beautiful forward Marguax nose of black and dark red fruits, strawberries and flowers, leather, musk and tobacco leaves. Deep purplish crimson color. On the palate, excellent and velevety attack, explosive and rich fruit mid palate and powerful tannins which clearly need another 7 - 10 years to soften. Medium to full bodied this is a very enjoyable wine with the only slight disppointment in the finish which came a bit short. Excellent value.
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12/8/2010 - Paul D wrote:
Chateaux Canon and Rauzan-Segla with John Kolasa (Merchant Taylors' Hall, Threadneedle Street, London EC2): Deeper colour. slightly closed on the nose. On the palate bigger, richer, but again closed and very tight. Long finish.
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10/20/2010 - ews3 wrote: 93 Points
Zachys Robin Hood 2010 Wine Tasting (La venue, NYC): nice medium bodied profile. black fruit, spice box, tobacco. lovely finish lasts for a while.
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6/23/2010 - jim_crane Likes this wine: 93 Points
J & G Steakhouse. W Washington, DC. Brief decant. Opaque red. Wow! This has a fantastic nose! Fragrant floral aromas combine with fresh tobacco, leather and dark berry fruit. The nose never let down over the evening. This is just a baby as shown by the strong tannins. But there is nice balance in this wine and, after extended time in the decanter, it really settled down into a mix of tobacco and dark fruits. The nose certainly outdid the palate but this wine has room to grow.
50+4+15+17+7
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5/25/2010 - Faryan wrote: 91 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.
Still reticent and showing very little on the nose. It has grip but isn’t showing what’s behind the wall of tannins. Somewhat dissapointing. After about 2 more hours, the wine develops a more beautiful nose of tobacco and bright kirsch. The wine never really showed up and something of a disappointment as this has been a “wow” wine for me in the past. If I had to rate I'd give this a 91-92 pts but the prior experience was in the 97+ range. Confer what you will, but I'd stay away from the wine for a few years or give it a healthy decant.
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4/18/2010 - Alex H wrote: 89 Points
WGS: 2005 Bordeaux; 4/17/2010-4/18/2010 (Hilton Hotel Singapore): Something really alluring and seductive here. Silky , smooth, mysterious . Polished fine fruits, excellently well made wine. Super classy, soft yet firm, black graphite with a lingering finish. Great potential.This has surpassed my prediction for its development by a notch and becoming really fitting of its cru classe.
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3/1/2010 - BigRed1000 wrote: 90 Points
I was expecting more from this wine. Seemed to lack grip and concentration. i know it's supposed to be on the elegant side becasue it's a Margaux but I expected more.
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11/18/2009 - pjaines wrote:
Farr Vintners Tasting - London; 11/17/2009-11/18/2009 (Vintners Hall - London): Big, deep nose of primary fruit and whacks of vanilla - very alluring a slightly slutty. Needs a long long time. Actually quite approachable now but will probably shut down soon. Built for the long haul.
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10/23/2009 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
WFA Bordeaux 2005/2006 Tasting by the Wine Review (Suntec Convention Centre, Singapore): I thought this was first class. Lovely, lovely nose. Rich, yet elegant, with plums and cassis wed to perfumed flowers and inflected with bits of meatiness and some talcum powder accents. Very complete on the palate. Rich and concentrated, with plums and cassis fruit wed to perfumed tones and spicy notes, all pinned to ripe, melting tannins. A real charmer. Nice long finish too, with fruit and spice notes and a little twist of menthol lingering away in the mouth. Will be beautiful in time. Needs patience though - I would give it 10 years at least.
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10/23/2009 - Alex H wrote: 86 Points
Bordeaux 2005 and 2006 Tasting; 10/22/2009-10/26/2009 (Wine For Asia Singapore Suntec): Inkish swirl of violets flowery perfume and talcum powder. Lightly oaked. Lifted palate with readily acessible red fruits, red currants and an earth hinted finish. Moderate to long finish. Shows breed. 85-88pts
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1/26/2009 - TashNYC wrote:
Grand Crus de Bordeaux Tasting: 2005 & 2006 wines (NYC, The Lighthouse, Pier 60, Chelsea Piers): all gone by the time we got to it.
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1/19/2009 - JJL wrote: 92 Points
This was a very well balanced wine that was drinking nicely now.
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10/21/2008 - poptart_nyc wrote: 90 Points
2005 Bordeaux- leftovers from WS Experience (SL Gallery): lighter and more elegant, not a lot of fruit on the nose. tobacco and spice in mouth, soft and aromatic. a preferred style for me
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10/18/2008 - G SQUARED wrote: 93 Points
WS Exp - Light floral red fruit notes. Reserved nose. Very classic on the palate with tobacco, tar and lead flavor profiles. This needs time.
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10/1/2008 - Remony wrote: 90 Points
2005 Red Bordeaux Vintage Farr Vintners Masterclass (Vintners Hall, City of London): Colour very firm & dark, limpid. Flowers, perfume and power on the nose. Classy flavours, but dumbish for now. Slight acidity, distinct tannins, but good fruit too.
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5/22/2008 - petitblanc wrote: 89 Points
Pure black cherry color. Pleasantly open and complex nose of spice, mixed berry pie, chocolate, cigar box, and mineral. Quite ripe, yet lacking the depth to carry the alcohol (which is stated at only 13.5%), making the palate seem a bit hollow. The finish is long and creamy, and the tannins are surprisingly integrated. Modern in style, not overly structured, this displays some Margaux finesse that is spoiled by the intrusive alcohol. Overall not bad, yet not up to expectations. This may be in an awkward phase now, but may never improve. I'll try again in five years.
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1/22/2008 - Vino Me wrote: 90 Points
2005 Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting (Drake Hotel, Chicago, Illinois): 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 5% Petite Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Another 2nd growth Margaux estate that did not do as well as it should have. This was a very good wine but I expected more. On the nose it had some brambly underbrush and cigar box. Dry with some tartness. Notes of cherry and raw meat. I liked the 2003 better. 89-90 points.
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1/20/2008 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
Big, bold and broad shouldered, this structured, cassis, floral, blackberry and anise scented wine has all the stuffing needed to age and develop for decades. This is in the mold of the 86, which remains the finest wine I've tasted from the property.
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1/19/2008 - hcampana wrote: 92 Points
2005 Bordeaux @ Union des Grand Crus (San Francisco, CA): Very fragant nose of minerals and a primarily red fruit profile. Medium bodied with powerful flavors. Excellent.
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11/11/2007 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine:
Really the finest Margaux tasted at the New York event. It managed to combine the diaphanous elegance of Margaux with the substance of Pauillac, but in a very smooth, rather floral fashion. Tasted again in Dusseldorf with consistent notes. A wine for the ages.
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4/5/2006 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 90 Points
BORDEAUX 2005 / Cabernet rules; 4/5/2006-4/10/2006 (Bordeaux): At first tight and even a tad astringent with some unripe plum notes, but on the palate develops very pure dark cherry flavors and the texture shows quality tannins, a nice palate feel, if tight now. A wine that needs time and shows promise... 89-91+
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3/28/2006 - Burgundy Al wrote:
2005 Bordeaux en Primeur; 3/26/2006-3/28/2006 (Bordeaux France): En Primeur tasting. Black cherry and currant aromas with cassis. great spice aromas and flavors. Good structure throughout, getting a bit firm on finish. Very good 92-95 potential, but 2015+ forward.
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