5 hour slow Ox prior to drinking. Nose is very fruit forward, plush and extracted in style. Palate has great structure though.
I’ve had the 14, 15, and 17 vintages in the last year and those are very different in style than this 05. I know they changed a lot of winemaking styles around 2013, perhaps that is part of the difference. Whatever the case, I won’t buy more of the 2005 but will buy more of the newer vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Was thoroughly disappointed tonight with this and turned to Cellartracker to see if there were any recent comments. Sure enough, all but one reflected exactly my impression. Fruit gone, tannins remaining, flavor profile flat as a board and plonky. If you have any, open now but know that it may have a destiny to meet your kitchen sink.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely nose of mature Bordeaux. Black currant, toasted oak, blackberry and spice. Medium bodied and holding up well. Palate echoes the nose. Best drunk now, but will last another few years. Good, not great. 87
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Takes 45 min to open up. Still in enjoyable shape but I should have drunk this in its youth. After the primary fruit has gone (at least since 2013) the wine reveals a lack of stuffing. At least Balanced and flawless. Rather for beginners. Without any flavours on the second evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
As noted in a previous review a couple of months ago, this wine is beginning to lose fruit, has noticeable tannins in the mid-range and finish as the fruit diminishes, and has a bit of oxidation. I wound up not drinking the wine as life is too short to drink bad wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This must be a bad lot I received OR the wine itself is flawed. Every bottle we've drank has been flat or off. This one had the same greenness and was just eh. We dumped the rest and I highly doubt the last bottle ever becomes something better. It will not be consumed in a meaningful setting, that is for sure.
As noted in a previous review of this wine, I think this wine is beginning to lose fruit with more pronounced tannins emerging, has a touch of oxidation, and should be drunk up sooner rather than later.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It was interesting to see this develop from when I first tried it in 2010, when it was in its ungainly youth, through 2011, when it began to show signs of (rather muscle-bound) maturity, until its spectral senescence now. An interesting experiment, though I wish I had tried it in 2012 or '13. Still, a very minor claret, though it tries so hard.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Have had this wine on several occasions over the past 4 years and I think it is a good to very good, less expensive Bordeaux. However, I also think the fruit is beginning to decline and the generally round tannins in the mid-range and finish are becoming more pronounced. I would suggest drinking up within the next couple of years or so. Generally, I think Le Conseiller is one of the better wines of its class, and I have enjoyed the 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted about one-half hour before serving and served with grilled quail. This is an excellent generic Bordeaux. Initial nose of cassis and blackberries with moderate to full mouth feel, soft tanins in the mid range and a good finish. Excellent value and entering its most drinkable phase.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A better than average 2005 Bordeaux that shows many Left Bank qualities. Dark purple. Nose is solid but nothing stood out. Great concentration, structure, and mouthfeel. It gave the impression that Cabernet Sauvignon comprised a portion of the blend though only Merlot and Cabernet Franc are present. This performed admirably next to a 2006 Cheval des Andes which costs about three times more. Given the cost and vintage, this is a great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The best bottle of this wine I have had thus far, it had great modern Bordeaux fruit and medium weight. Lots of cassis, leaning slightly toward chocolate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice bordeaux superieur for a weekday night with beef. Nice old world stype earth and some oak. Little cassis with medium finish. Pleasant good food wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark color. Not much fruit coming out right now, a little oaken char comes through. The wine was a little flat, not much acidity. The tannins, while a little bitter, give strength to this wine and keep it alive. This bottle was shut down and would likely have benefitted from an extended decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted about 45 minutes before serving. Purple, almost black color. Rush of casis and fresh fruit in the nose followed by medium, soft tanins, and just a touch of bitterness. Moderate length on the finish. Still and excellent Bordeaux superior with at least a couple of years before this wine reaches its peak. Should last for 5+ years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It turned out to be a fine Bdx Superieur, though nothing more. For $20, with its reasonably smooth & complex interchange of fruit, terroir, oak, and age, it's a lot better than most other countries or regions can produce--though Bordeaux, mes amis, can do much better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What a nice surprise - opened on a work night to go with some goat stew left overs. Dark garnet color, nose of pepper and sandlewood, dark fruits on the medium bodied palate with fine tannins and balance acidity. Cellared since release. Bordeaux dosen't have to be expensive or carry a cachet name to be good. Seek this one out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rush of casis, berries, red plums in the nose followed by slight bitterness, tanins, a course texture in the mid range, and a moderate finish. Despite some of these limitations, this is a very nice wine for a Bordeaux Superieur, which has some time to mature (5-6 years) and should be better in a year or so. Similar results to 6 months ago, but is beginning to open up a bit more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple with Asian spice and loads of dark fruit. It has some serious tongue staining tannins. This wine is not for the faint of heart, it is rustic in it's temperament, but noble in it's nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This may turn out better than I feared. On nose & palate, there's wild cherry, cigar box, and black pepper. It would be nicer with more fruit & less oak, but things are moving in the right direction. It will never be a great success, but it may end up creditable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 3 hours. Nose cigar, gravel funk and violets. On the palate it has a strong spice quality with sharp acidity. A buttery finish to cap off the wine. Not a recommended wine and I don't see this going places.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Surprising fail. Janoueix + 2005 should equal QPR magic. This was hot and sour, short and wonky. George Kastanza without a sense of humor. I thought had to be a retail storage issue, the color was off, too. I bought it three days ago, decanted and aired after tasting, reserved half for a second day trial. It never fulfilled. But after reading the reviews, my experience is with those who are on the wrong side of the tracks with this bottle. Where the problem originates is not clear, but this is a far cry from the 2009 sampled at chateau.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fairly closed in with an earthy, loam nose. Initial cassis, earthiness and pronounced alcohol in the initial flavors and mid-range, with a chalky texture and good length in the finish. Should be much better in a couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Berry and French wood nose, followed by hints of Merlot and Cabernet Franc behind the Cabernet Sauvignon. Could be wrong on the order, but seems to have those three in decent percentages. Balanced on the palate, a little hot (14% alc.); good flavor and finish. Went well with lamb. Wine is on sale at a local wine merchant ($22) and may buy more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
While not as complex as last bottle drank on 7/31/09 this is still drinking well. Nose still has some earth and cornbread aromas and palate shows the dark fruits, solid tannins and a medium length finish. While still nice I would drink up over the next year or two. Went well with dry aged Ribeyes done on the grill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very concentrated. Aromatic. Like the aromatics from a fancy soap - lilacs? Big red fruits, toast and smoke. Pretty intense on the palate. Definitely needs food right now. Very tannic when drunk by itself. I still think there is plenty of fruit. But oak, tobacco, toast and tannins are here too. Dry with very good acidity. Day 2 - virbant tart blue/black fruits., cedar, tobacco-y, earthy. Old World and I like it! Tannins softened over night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. A little tight at first with pomegranate, and other red fruit along with a touch of sous bois. The tannins were a little very powerful in the context of the fruit on night one. Cork placed back in bottle and the bottle allowed to set at room temperature for 24 hours. Tasted again on day 2, this time it showed much more fruit, dominated by cassis. Tannins were more plush. Drink with a decant, or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Crimson-purple, opaque, lots of sediment; vanilla, cassis, plums; blackcurrant jam, full body, good acidity, ripe silky tannins, lingering finish. Decanted 2 hrs. Cassis and new oak with velvety texture and good balance. Seemed to have a good percentage of Merlot. Delicious and excellent QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Query: what was a brawny, brutal, tannic wine with plenty of fruit a year ago now tastes mostly of the barrel it aged in. Should I assume the wine was badly made and didn't have the capacity to develop, or, as so many commentators on 2005 clarets have written, is this merely a stage through which the wine is passing on the way from being "closed down" to opening back up?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Used a bit of this for cooking on Night One and finished the bottle on Night Two. This is either a flat out disappointment or I got a bad batch because now after 3 of our 6 bottles, one was corked and the two others were just not that good. Vegetal. Onion. No fruit. There is a little secondary development, but not much. Heat and clipped finish. I'll toss the other 3 bottles in an out of the way place in the cellar and sit on them for a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blind Reds (Roberts House): Tasted double blind. Green notes on this, it seems to have been picked early -- very surprising in a year like 05. Sour finish is clipped and leaves heat behind. Coming after the homemade wine, this was in a spot where it should have performed well -- it did not.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blind Red Throw Down! (Our House (2033 Brandywine St., Philadelphia)): Tasted single blind, as I included this bottle after the previous bottle I opened was corked. Could I have gotten a bad or poorly stored lot from Zachys? Red fruit, raspberry and oak. However, this had a touch of green on the nose mixed with some heat. Vegetal on the palate, with green onion in the background. Tannic. Shorter finish. Never would have guessed Bordeaux based on this profile. Very disappointed when revealed. Would have expected much more from 05 Bordeaux. Not too much hope for remaining 4 bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fabulous, elegant yet powerful, this is a 2005 gem of a QPR! - Dark, medium/full bodied with a nose of plum, black fruit, licorice, spice box and vanilla, nicely structured/balance, decent complexity on the palate with excellent length, awesome! (91 Points).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: Dark, earthy minerals with leather, cellar must, and a hint of cornbread. Palate: Dark, spicy fruits, a somewhat hollow middle, and a pretty tannic, long finish. The dark fruits really open up with some air. For a low end BDX this wine showed very well, particularily the unique nose. Wish I had more than this one bottle as this is drinking great now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Corked. Not overly so but the wet musty cardboard dominated. After serious swirling, there was little or no fruit. Unapproachable. Tried to use my imagination. Five more bottles. Let's hope that the bottle was bad only because it was corked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enjoyed this bottle. Pretty new world Merlot/CF with dense color and bold fruit. Very young and actually got more tight each of the three nights that I drank it. Give it 2 yrs and come back. I bet it will be a different animal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Linking With Bordeaux (Wine Exchange - Orange, CA): Deep dark red purple color. Attractive straightforward aromas on the nose with plums and dark berries. Dark full-bodied fruit on the palate along with firm coarse tannins. I don’t think this wine is showing that great right now but give it time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very open after an hour or so breathing (no decant). Very primary fruit dominating; Very ripe and more on the red end of the spectrum (Cherries for the most part). Little in the way of complexity showing. Full bodied with a new-world like texture and sensation in the mouth. Relatively low acidity for a 2005 Bdx; had some slight astringency to the finish initially, but after several hours the astringency was gone and significant tannin was present (nothing like the 'big boys' from 2005, but definitely marking the wine as old world). Drink now after an hour or so open or wait up to 5-8 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great fruit, lots of volatile aromatics, almost liqueur like aromas. Enough acidity to give it life. However, there is a slightly green bitterness in its tannins that detracts from the wine. It's good now, drink up. It will keep just long enough for your other 2005s to come into their own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bordeaux Today (2005s & A Lone 2004) (Wine Exchange - Orange, CA): Gorgeous crystalline purity in the color of this wine with a garnet core and a light purple rim. On the nose this is quite high toned with raspberry and some herbal character. The palate seems somewhat closed, offering herb and oak nuances which seem to mask the fruit at this point. To me this wine came off as quite closed on the palate but I think it has potential. 88+?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has "California" written all over it. Sweet, ripe cherry fruit, vanilla and chocolate. Low in structure (although I did decant for over 8 hours) and surprisingly accessable. Not what I was expecting, and for me, a bit of a disappointment. No Bordeaux character to be found here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Initially rough and overly tannic, it smoothed out quickly and more fruit appeared. Fruit and earth. I thought the tannins were still dry. Tasted even better during my steak tonight. Drinkable now, but I think better in the next 1-4.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 30 minutes. Dark purple color. Aromas of raspberries and plums are persistent on the nose. 30+ second finish with mouth drying tannins. Can be enjoyed now (i.e. if decanted) and for the next ten years. I am glad I bought a case.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big surprise. This is the first 2005 bordeaux I have opened that was not so young that the tannins overwhelmed everything else. Young, full bodied now on opening. Decanted for a couple of hours and all the edges went away. Now the wine seems more on the medium bodied smooth drinking side.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice deep colored medium body wine. nose with light fruit, the pepper aftertaste is excellent. overall a good bottle, but drink now and don't pay more than $15-17.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Craig Vanderah's Annual BBQ (Pax, Kosta Brown, Beaucastel, Donjon, Turley, Loring, Neal): Bright and shiny ruby red color with some purple hues. Offers a youthful nose of liquor-like cherry fruit and a fresh and clean style that could be Napa except for the secondary notes of earth, tobacco, and chocolate. On the palate this delivers a mouth coating splash of ripe red fruit in a bright and zingy style. Pretty well balanced, although maybe a bit strong with the acidity. Very tannic. This finish is long and satisfying. This is an excellent wine. P.S. After five hours in the decanter this tightened up considerably and searing tannin dominated/obscured the taste. It became almost undrinkable due to the tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was a nice surprise. Deep purple / garnet. Initial nose of oak and black cherry fruit. The wine began tough and a bit our of balance. However, with 30 minutes of air, things came together. This is certainly on the new world style of Bordeaux, but I think this will blossom and provide great drinking in 2 to 3 years and last for 10 to 12. A super bargain. (88+)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Poured at a retailer tasting. This is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. A little sweeter nose than the other 2005 Bordeaux I've had. Dark purple color. Rather tight and tannic. This wine was not decanted. Notes of dark fruit with some chocolate on the finish. Medium to full bodied. 88+ points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brought a mag of this to a Super Bowl Party and it was drunk before kick-off. These humble right bank Bordeaux from top vintages make great party wines, in my opinion. They hold much more interest for the wine geek than the sorts of critter wines usually served at parties, but the merlot makes them accessible for the casual drinker. This offered a little complexity, and it was smoothe and ready to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mon-Fri Night Wines (Farpointe Cellar): This wine was not very good at all. It was overly acidic and off balance. I t was smooth in the mouth, but that's about the only good thing I could say. It was drinkable, but just barely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I always like trying wines like this to try to get an early feel for a vintage. A bit heavy on the oak for my taste, but enjoyable in a simple way. This lacks character and personality, and isn't the kindof wine I would purchase more of, but its not bad for a generic Bordeaux.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
8/8/2019 - Lateva wrote: 91 Points
5 hour slow Ox prior to drinking.
Nose is very fruit forward, plush and extracted in style. Palate has great structure though.
I’ve had the 14, 15, and 17 vintages in the last year and those are very different in style than this 05. I know they changed a lot of winemaking styles around 2013, perhaps that is part of the difference. Whatever the case, I won’t buy more of the 2005 but will buy more of the newer vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2017 - mike l. Likes this wine: 90 Points
definitely in its window but not past by any means. nicely developed bordeaux here.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2016 - nextworld wrote: 83 Points
Was thoroughly disappointed tonight with this and turned to Cellartracker to see if there were any recent comments. Sure enough, all but one reflected exactly my impression. Fruit gone, tannins remaining, flavor profile flat as a board and plonky. If you have any, open now but know that it may have a destiny to meet your kitchen sink.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2016 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 87 Points
Lovely nose of mature Bordeaux. Black currant, toasted oak, blackberry and spice. Medium bodied and holding up well. Palate echoes the nose. Best drunk now, but will last another few years. Good, not great. 87
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/5/2016 - Dancing with bottles wrote: 83 Points
Takes 45 min to open up. Still in enjoyable shape but I should have drunk this in its youth. After the primary fruit has gone (at least since 2013) the wine reveals a lack of stuffing. At least Balanced and flawless. Rather for beginners.
Without any flavours on the second evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2016 - Dmiller3 wrote: 84 Points
Fine to drink but pretty flat on the delivery - not bad, just not great anymore
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2016 - Ken332 wrote: 80 Points
As noted in a previous review a couple of months ago, this wine is beginning to lose fruit, has noticeable tannins in the mid-range and finish as the fruit diminishes, and has a bit of oxidation. I wound up not drinking the wine as life is too short to drink bad wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2016 - jrobs7777 Does not like this wine:
This must be a bad lot I received OR the wine itself is flawed. Every bottle we've drank has been flat or off. This one had the same greenness and was just eh. We dumped the rest and I highly doubt the last bottle ever becomes something better. It will not be consumed in a meaningful setting, that is for sure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/2/2016 - Ken332 wrote: 84 Points
As noted in a previous review of this wine, I think this wine is beginning to lose fruit with more pronounced tannins emerging, has a touch of oxidation, and should be drunk up sooner rather than later.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2015 - wine&roses wrote:
It was interesting to see this develop from when I first tried it in 2010, when it was in its ungainly youth, through 2011, when it began to show signs of (rather muscle-bound) maturity, until its spectral senescence now. An interesting experiment, though I wish I had tried it in 2012 or '13. Still, a very minor claret, though it tries so hard.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 85 Points
Drink this sooner than later to grab the last of its remaining sweet, cherry and licorice personality.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2015 - Ken332 wrote: 87 Points
Have had this wine on several occasions over the past 4 years and I think it is a good to very good, less expensive Bordeaux. However, I also think the fruit is beginning to decline and the generally round tannins in the mid-range and finish are becoming more pronounced. I would suggest drinking up within the next couple of years or so. Generally, I think Le Conseiller is one of the better wines of its class, and I have enjoyed the 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2014 - landa73 wrote: 72 Points
Good for the price but didn't amaze. Classic cedar and tobacco and dark fruit but a bit thin and watery on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2014 - Uncle John wrote: 90 Points
Very nice 05 Bordeaux that I bought for under $20. This had some complexity but lacked the depth to be great. Drink up now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2013 - Ken332 wrote: 89 Points
Double decanted about one-half hour before serving and served with grilled quail. This is an excellent generic Bordeaux. Initial nose of cassis and blackberries with moderate to full mouth feel, soft tanins in the mid range and a good finish. Excellent value and entering its most drinkable phase.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2013 - ScottGoodwin Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful little Bdx. Pretty exuberant nose. Black fruits. Cedar. Graceful and smooth. Charcoal and tobacco.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2013 - Motz wrote: 91 Points
A better than average 2005 Bordeaux that shows many Left Bank qualities. Dark purple. Nose is solid but nothing stood out. Great concentration, structure, and mouthfeel. It gave the impression that Cabernet Sauvignon comprised a portion of the blend though only Merlot and Cabernet Franc are present. This performed admirably next to a 2006 Cheval des Andes which costs about three times more. Given the cost and vintage, this is a great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2013 - Roentgen Ray wrote: flawed
corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2012 - Roentgen Ray Likes this wine: 91 Points
The best bottle of this wine I have had thus far, it had great modern Bordeaux fruit and medium weight. Lots of cassis, leaning slightly toward chocolate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2012 - robertgf wrote: 88 Points
- Garnet color. It's lacking fruit with a medium finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2012 - sma wrote: 88 Points
Nice bordeaux superieur for a weekday night with beef. Nice old world stype earth and some oak. Little cassis with medium finish. Pleasant good food wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2012 - 10izguy wrote:
tannins were overpowering at first better when it opened up and definitely needed food to go with it. If you can decant well in advance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2011 - rocinante22 wrote: 88 Points
Actually liked immediately after opening more than after it decanted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2011 - Roentgen Ray wrote: 87 Points
Dark color. Not much fruit coming out right now, a little oaken char comes through. The wine was a little flat, not much acidity. The tannins, while a little bitter, give strength to this wine and keep it alive. This bottle was shut down and would likely have benefitted from an extended decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2011 - Ken332 wrote: 87 Points
Double decanted about 45 minutes before serving. Purple, almost black color. Rush of casis and fresh fruit in the nose followed by medium, soft tanins, and just a touch of bitterness. Moderate length on the finish. Still and excellent Bordeaux superior with at least a couple of years before this wine reaches its peak. Should last for 5+ years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2011 - wine&roses wrote: 88 Points
It turned out to be a fine Bdx Superieur, though nothing more. For $20, with its reasonably smooth & complex interchange of fruit, terroir, oak, and age, it's a lot better than most other countries or regions can produce--though Bordeaux, mes amis, can do much better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2011 - jimkay21 wrote: 91 Points
What a nice surprise - opened on a work night to go with some goat stew left overs. Dark garnet color, nose of pepper and sandlewood, dark fruits on the medium bodied palate with fine tannins and balance acidity. Cellared since release. Bordeaux dosen't have to be expensive or carry a cachet name to be good. Seek this one out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2011 - Ken332 wrote: 87 Points
Rush of casis, berries, red plums in the nose followed by slight bitterness, tanins, a course texture in the mid range, and a moderate finish. Despite some of these limitations, this is a very nice wine for a Bordeaux Superieur, which has some time to mature (5-6 years) and should be better in a year or so. Similar results to 6 months ago, but is beginning to open up a bit more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2011 - gmbdds wrote: 86 Points
Simple but pleasant notes of plum, currant and spice on a medium-bodied frame and a small finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2011 - Roentgen Ray wrote: 91 Points
Dark purple with Asian spice and loads of dark fruit. It has some serious tongue staining tannins. This wine is not for the faint of heart, it is rustic in it's temperament, but noble in it's nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2011 - wine&roses wrote: 90 Points
Maturing into a fine claret as the tannins resolve and the fruit re-emerges.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2011 - wine&roses wrote: 88 Points
This may turn out better than I feared. On nose & palate, there's wild cherry, cigar box, and black pepper. It would be nicer with more fruit & less oak, but things are moving in the right direction. It will never be a great success, but it may end up creditable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2011 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 84 Points
Decanted 3 hours. Nose cigar, gravel funk and violets. On the palate it has a strong spice quality with sharp acidity. A buttery finish to cap off the wine. Not a recommended wine and I don't see this going places.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2010 - City Wine Journal wrote: 72 Points
Surprising fail. Janoueix + 2005 should equal QPR magic. This was hot and sour, short and wonky. George Kastanza without a sense of humor. I thought had to be a retail storage issue, the color was off, too. I bought it three days ago, decanted and aired after tasting, reserved half for a second day trial. It never fulfilled. But after reading the reviews, my experience is with those who are on the wrong side of the tracks with this bottle. Where the problem originates is not clear, but this is a far cry from the 2009 sampled at chateau.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2010 - Ken332 wrote: 87 Points
Fairly closed in with an earthy, loam nose. Initial cassis, earthiness and pronounced alcohol in the initial flavors and mid-range, with a chalky texture and good length in the finish. Should be much better in a couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2010 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 84 Points
Not a bad wine, but nothing spectacular. Lots of wood, missing fruit. Drink with some juicy food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2010 - sdwineguru wrote: 89 Points
Berry and French wood nose, followed by hints of Merlot and Cabernet Franc behind the Cabernet Sauvignon. Could be wrong on the order, but seems to have those three in decent percentages. Balanced on the palate, a little hot (14% alc.); good flavor and finish. Went well with lamb. Wine is on sale at a local wine merchant ($22) and may buy more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2010 - Mattshank wrote: 90 Points
While not as complex as last bottle drank on 7/31/09 this is still drinking well. Nose still has some earth and cornbread aromas and palate shows the dark fruits, solid tannins and a medium length finish. While still nice I would drink up over the next year or two. Went well with dry aged Ribeyes done on the grill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2010 - ScottGoodwin Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very concentrated. Aromatic. Like the aromatics from a fancy soap - lilacs? Big red fruits, toast and smoke. Pretty intense on the palate. Definitely needs food right now. Very tannic when drunk by itself. I still think there is plenty of fruit. But oak, tobacco, toast and tannins are here too. Dry with very good acidity. Day 2 - virbant tart blue/black fruits., cedar, tobacco-y, earthy. Old World and I like it! Tannins softened over night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2010 - Roentgen Ray wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. A little tight at first with pomegranate, and other red fruit along with a touch of sous bois. The tannins were a little very powerful in the context of the fruit on night one. Cork placed back in bottle and the bottle allowed to set at room temperature for 24 hours. Tasted again on day 2, this time it showed much more fruit, dominated by cassis. Tannins were more plush. Drink with a decant, or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2010 - ColinR wrote: 91 Points
Crimson-purple, opaque, lots of sediment; vanilla, cassis, plums; blackcurrant jam, full body, good acidity, ripe silky tannins, lingering finish.
Decanted 2 hrs. Cassis and new oak with velvety texture and good balance. Seemed to have a good percentage of Merlot. Delicious and excellent QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2010 - wine&roses wrote:
Query: what was a brawny, brutal, tannic wine with plenty of fruit a year ago now tastes mostly of the barrel it aged in. Should I assume the wine was badly made and didn't have the capacity to develop, or, as so many commentators on 2005 clarets have written, is this merely a stage through which the wine is passing on the way from being "closed down" to opening back up?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2010 - jrobs7777 wrote: 74 Points
Used a bit of this for cooking on Night One and finished the bottle on Night Two. This is either a flat out disappointment or I got a bad batch because now after 3 of our 6 bottles, one was corked and the two others were just not that good. Vegetal. Onion. No fruit. There is a little secondary development, but not much. Heat and clipped finish. I'll toss the other 3 bottles in an out of the way place in the cellar and sit on them for a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2009 - ews3 wrote: 81 Points
Blind Reds (Roberts House): Tasted double blind. Green notes on this, it seems to have been picked early -- very surprising in a year like 05. Sour finish is clipped and leaves heat behind. Coming after the homemade wine, this was in a spot where it should have performed well -- it did not.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2009 - jrobs7777 wrote: 85 Points
Blind Red Throw Down! (Our House (2033 Brandywine St., Philadelphia)): Tasted single blind, as I included this bottle after the previous bottle I opened was corked. Could I have gotten a bad or poorly stored lot from Zachys? Red fruit, raspberry and oak. However, this had a touch of green on the nose mixed with some heat. Vegetal on the palate, with green onion in the background. Tannic. Shorter finish. Never would have guessed Bordeaux based on this profile. Very disappointed when revealed. Would have expected much more from 05 Bordeaux. Not too much hope for remaining 4 bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2009 - boywonda wrote: 89 Points
Very nice. Fruit forward, modern bordeaux. Great QPR. Not a ton of subtlety.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2009 - Tarrant wrote: 91 Points
Fabulous, elegant yet powerful, this is a 2005 gem of a QPR! - Dark, medium/full bodied with a nose of plum, black fruit, licorice, spice box and vanilla, nicely structured/balance, decent complexity on the palate with excellent length, awesome! (91 Points).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2009 - Mattshank wrote: 91 Points
Nose: Dark, earthy minerals with leather, cellar must, and a hint of cornbread. Palate: Dark, spicy fruits, a somewhat hollow middle, and a pretty tannic, long finish. The dark fruits really open up with some air. For a low end BDX this wine showed very well, particularily the unique nose. Wish I had more than this one bottle as this is drinking great now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2009 - pvd420 wrote: 88 Points
Nice modern fruit and good price. What's not to like?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2009 - jrobs7777 wrote: flawed
Corked. Not overly so but the wet musty cardboard dominated. After serious swirling, there was little or no fruit. Unapproachable. Tried to use my imagination. Five more bottles. Let's hope that the bottle was bad only because it was corked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2009 - polimeri wrote: 89 Points
Enjoyed this bottle. Pretty new world Merlot/CF with dense color and bold fruit. Very young and actually got more tight each of the three nights that I drank it. Give it 2 yrs and come back. I bet it will be a different animal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2009 - ggkemp wrote: 87 Points
Ready to drink with no decanting. Easy to enjoy. Little complexity, medium body & finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2008 - Badfish wrote: 88 Points
Linking With Bordeaux (Wine Exchange - Orange, CA): Deep dark red purple color. Attractive straightforward aromas on the nose with plums and dark berries. Dark full-bodied fruit on the palate along with firm coarse tannins. I don’t think this wine is showing that great right now but give it time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2008 - SteveT wrote: 89 Points
Very open after an hour or so breathing (no decant). Very primary fruit dominating; Very ripe and more on the red end of the spectrum (Cherries for the most part). Little in the way of complexity showing. Full bodied with a new-world like texture and sensation in the mouth. Relatively low acidity for a 2005 Bdx; had some slight astringency to the finish initially, but after several hours the astringency was gone and significant tannin was present (nothing like the 'big boys' from 2005, but definitely marking the wine as old world). Drink now after an hour or so open or wait up to 5-8 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2008 - Roentgen Ray wrote: 91 Points
Great fruit, lots of volatile aromatics, almost liqueur like aromas. Enough acidity to give it life. However, there is a slightly green bitterness in its tannins that detracts from the wine. It's good now, drink up. It will keep just long enough for your other 2005s to come into their own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2008 - Badfish wrote: 88 Points
Bordeaux Today (2005s & A Lone 2004) (Wine Exchange - Orange, CA): Gorgeous crystalline purity in the color of this wine with a garnet core and a light purple rim. On the nose this is quite high toned with raspberry and some herbal character. The palate seems somewhat closed, offering herb and oak nuances which seem to mask the fruit at this point. To me this wine came off as quite closed on the palate but I think it has potential. 88+?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2008 - mdefreitas wrote: 86 Points
This has "California" written all over it. Sweet, ripe cherry fruit, vanilla and chocolate. Low in structure (although I did decant for over 8 hours) and surprisingly accessable. Not what I was expecting, and for me, a bit of a disappointment. No Bordeaux character to be found here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2008 - Larry Brooks wrote: 89 Points
Initially rough and overly tannic, it smoothed out quickly and more fruit appeared. Fruit and earth. I thought the tannins were still dry. Tasted even better during my steak tonight. Drinkable now, but I think better in the next 1-4.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2008 - drgrape wrote: 90 Points
Certainly needs to be decanted at this time. Medium tannins, dark color, earthy fruit. Should be better is a couple years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2008 - JAR wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. Dark purple color. Aromas of raspberries and plums are persistent on the nose. 30+ second finish with mouth drying tannins. Can be enjoyed now (i.e. if decanted) and for the next ten years. I am glad I bought a case.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2008 - wynnewood500 wrote:
Big surprise. This is the first 2005 bordeaux I have opened that was not so young that the tannins overwhelmed everything else. Young, full bodied now on opening. Decanted for a couple of hours and all the edges went away. Now the wine seems more on the medium bodied smooth drinking side.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2008 - jimmythedentist wrote: 88 Points
Nice deep colored medium body wine. nose with light fruit, the pepper aftertaste is excellent. overall a good bottle, but drink now and don't pay more than $15-17.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2007 - Siggy wrote: 84 Points
Winestreet Does Low-End 2005 Bordeaux (Kozlak's, North Oaks, MN): Very oaky nose. Sweet and California Cabernet-like. Dense dark fruit and lots of vanilla/oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2007 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 91 Points
Craig Vanderah's Annual BBQ (Pax, Kosta Brown, Beaucastel, Donjon, Turley, Loring, Neal): Bright and shiny ruby red color with some purple hues. Offers a youthful nose of liquor-like cherry fruit and a fresh and clean style that could be Napa except for the secondary notes of earth, tobacco, and chocolate. On the palate this delivers a mouth coating splash of ripe red fruit in a bright and zingy style. Pretty well balanced, although maybe a bit strong with the acidity. Very tannic. This finish is long and satisfying. This is an excellent wine. P.S. After five hours in the decanter this tightened up considerably and searing tannin dominated/obscured the taste. It became almost undrinkable due to the tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2007 - mmurry wrote: 84 Points
Battle of the Blends: Reds and Whites (Farpointe Cellar): The nose was pretty good. Raspberry, chocolate, cedar box, and vegetal notes. The palate had raspberry, vegetables, and cedar. The finish was short and bitter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2007 - dbkitc wrote: 88 Points
This was a nice surprise. Deep purple / garnet. Initial nose of oak and black cherry fruit. The wine began tough and a bit our of balance. However, with 30 minutes of air, things came together. This is certainly on the new world style of Bordeaux, but I think this will blossom and provide great drinking in 2 to 3 years and last for 10 to 12. A super bargain. (88+)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2007 - Vino Me wrote: 88 Points
Poured at a retailer tasting. This is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. A little sweeter nose than the other 2005 Bordeaux I've had. Dark purple color. Rather tight and tannic. This wine was not decanted. Notes of dark fruit with some chocolate on the finish. Medium to full bodied. 88+ points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2007 - Ibetian wrote: 85 Points
Brought a mag of this to a Super Bowl Party and it was drunk before kick-off. These humble right bank Bordeaux from top vintages make great party wines, in my opinion. They hold much more interest for the wine geek than the sorts of critter wines usually served at parties, but the merlot makes them accessible for the casual drinker. This offered a little complexity, and it was smoothe and ready to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2006 - mmurry wrote: 79 Points
Mon-Fri Night Wines (Farpointe Cellar): This wine was not very good at all. It was overly acidic and off balance. I t was smooth in the mouth, but that's about the only good thing I could say. It was drinkable, but just barely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2006 - Spencer wrote: 85 Points
I always like trying wines like this to try to get an early feel for a vintage. A bit heavy on the oak for my taste, but enjoyable in a simple way. This lacks character and personality, and isn't the kindof wine I would purchase more of, but its not bad for a generic Bordeaux.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment