October 20, 2023 - Extra credit for the classic flavor profile. Tastes like a mid/level St. Emilion. Fully mature.
August 24, 2021 - Starting to move to a brick color, but still a fair amount of garnet in color. Nose is fairly black fruit based. Good acidity and medium length. Flavors are still pretty primal, black and blue fruit, but not overwhelming. No developed tertiary flavors at this time.
September 25, 2019 - Tasted blind. Deep ruby with a garnet rim. Intense, complex, developed nose, with ripe red cherry, dried black plums, tar, smoke, leather and French oak spice. Med acidity, med (+), well integrated alcohol (13.5%) and med (+) to pronounced but polished tannins. Full-body, med (+) intensity, with a long finish. Classic, high quality Old World, moderate to warm climate red. Still drinking well, this has several years left to go. 85% Merlot; 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
February 19, 2019 - Monthly Tuesday group "The Dead Sparrow" #026; Bordeaux 2005 (by DJ): Dark berries, licorice and some vanilla in the bouquet. On the palate ripe dark berries, some bell pepper and autumn forest. Juicy and firm acidity, good concentration and length. Still in its young maturity stage. Nice wine.
June 3, 2018 - Decanted for an hour. Fruit a bit dried and tired. Probably waited too long. This is a simple, medium-bodied and inexpensive Bordeaux that surpasses its price point. Dark fruit flavors, very little fine tannin remains, a bit of cassis and herbs.
August 21, 2017 - Past its prime; very ripe and tired fruit. Still a great value.
August 13, 2017 - Decanted for about an hour. For what I paid, it performed well. But, the fruit was too ripe and it didn't have much depth.
November 16, 2016 - Decanted for 2 hours and was showing beautifully. Opulent, rich dark cherry fruit, a touch of cassis and dried rosemary. Deep red color not showing a lot of bricking and some fine tannins remain -- but no reason to hold it any longer. Given the price, this was a great cellar buy.
February 18, 2016 - Monthly tasting club "The Tasting Club" 2016-02; Bordeaux 2005 (@ DJ): Beautiful and refined bouquet which shows some development. On the palate red and dark berries, sweet licorice, sweet spices, a touch of sweetness and good acidity. Soft and round tannin. The wine is halfway its maturity stage now and can last another 2 – 3 years as well.
June 25, 2013 - Bricking garnet color. Violets, cassis, earth, and spice. Smells and tastes well past prime, primary flavors fading fast. Violets wilting, cassis deceased, a dearth of earth, no savory spice. Kept too long.