2005 Domaine Etxegaraya Irouléguy Cuvée Lehengoa

Community Tasting Notes (23) Median Score: 91 points

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  4/10/2023 - Chomsky wrote:

  Like it was for Keith, this is a nostalgia trip for me. Cuvée Lehengoa has always been one of my favorite wines and I drank well over a case of the 2005 in the period soon after release, but this is the first bottle I have opened of this vintage since 2009. I have had one bottle stashed away since that time that I have not been able to bring myself around to open it (Keith has had the better part of a case); fortunately I scored a few of these at auction recently so here I go.
  
  Upon pop and pour this showed the same ultra-pure, cool blue fruits and stony definition that I remember. With a little air things turn more savory and herbal with a hint of truffles - this is really good, especially on the nose. The palate seems to be answering the question of whether the fruit will outlast the tannins: nope. This would be just fine with cassoulet, etc. I once asked Kermit Lynch about aging these wines and he said he preferred to drink them young when the fruit is at its most exuberant - I am inclined to agree.

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  8/31/2019 - Keith Levenberg wrote:

  Absolutely insane that it's been a dozen years since I've had these. Where does time go? It might move more slowly in this bottle because the second I popped the cork there was a gush of ultra-fresh just-crushed blueberry scents and the color of the wine was neon-bright. But the raw tannin does come back and reassert itself so after that initial flirtation with primary fruitiness it does turn stern and veer towards closing up. Still no idea what the future holds for this.

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  2/17/2018 - Sheila62 Likes this wine:

  Cassoulet night at my house..rustic elegance from a country cousin, great fruit, very good acidity..loved it. I am glad I have more. 125 year old tannat vines

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  8/25/2014 - kdsipe wrote: 91 Points

  Note from memory. This is coming along nicely, everything in balance. Mature red fruits, some herbs a bit of tomato. Harmonious with nothing sticking out. Medium bodied, high acid, strong velvety tannin, clean and long. Mellowed out and lost is savage character. Miles more to go in a good cellar.

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  9/14/2012 - marc d wrote:

  Hey this is starting to open up. Its still very primary, grapey, with teeth coating tannin. Much more expressive then a bottle in 2009 which was almost silent. Good wine, no rush though.

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