Not impressive. Coravin'd 8 oz. Let it sit in a good Bordeaux glass for 30 min then consumed over another 30 minutes. I beleive the others have had a more exciting interface with this wine and hope that perhaps this just needs more time to unfold. But I am skeptical as I do not sense the same St Julien fine military grandeur that a Ducrcu, Beychevelle or Leoville delivers. Interesting to see that Jancis downgraded her score over time.
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Beautiful nose, showing lots of black fruit, sweet tobacco, a tad dusty. On the palate, nice acidity, medium tannins, long finish. Black tea and black fruit. Needed 1.5 hrs in the decanter to improve. Could age longer if you want more tertiary notes.
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Perfect closure. Deepest garnet - vibrant with no hint of bricking up and such a narrow clear rim. Amazing after 19 years! Nose is still primary fruit with a hint of smokiness. Blackcurrant - lean and green - soft tannins but as with all 05’s plenty of them! Super soft furry landing - decanted but no time so maybe a little longer decant in order?
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My next bottle and it surpassed the last. This is really in a lovely place. Yes to the other supporters of this wine.. exotic, chewy and very well structured for a few more years left. Fruit is black and wonderfully not over ripe.. just very very drinkable.. with a simple lamb and some kind of red wine jus. 4 hour decant.
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The most remarkable thing about this is the exoticism. The Asian spice, soy sauce, tart cherry chocolate. The finish that lingers for minutes. Langoas are routinely solid but rarely this fun. This is too good not to enjoy now and the rounded tannin and settled but firm structure provides no excuse not to.
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Didn’t get to day two with this. Was second in a side-by-side with Cantenac Brown 09 (Marg). PnP. Then left. Some slight chew. Robust but can see why the plaudits like this. Dark, brooding. Linear nose. Give it air. I can’t see how others got the best out of no decanting. In summary, not in prime drinking spot (I can hear the CT voices of disagreement). But good clobber indeed. Great QPR.
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This is really good! Beautiful mixture of traditional Bdx secondary aromatics, powdery tannines, supporting refreshing acidity and modern-day fruit purity and cleanliness. Wonderful wine.
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Asian notes of soy and five spice, overlaid by wafts of menthol, sandalwood and rich, sweet red berry. This hasn’t left its fruit phase (no sign of secondary notes) but has really softened and is relaxed and easygoing. This is drop dead gorgeous and dangerously seductive. Will obviously have a great second life though if you’re after something primary but very settled, there is every reason to start drinking through the case now.
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Ridiculously drop dead gorgeous. Perfect drinking window now. Outshone the 1999 Leoville Barton pairing in the cheese plate course. Served blind and everyone guessed home wine but wide range of vintage guesses. Ex-chateau with Damien Barton.
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Let's see. It's national wine day in the states, so why not pick a French wine. 3-1/2 years have flown by since my last visit. A touch more garnet on the rim. Bouquet is a bit more reserved than I recall, but gaining complexity. Palate is a touch softer, but still fresh and full of life. No complex notes taken.
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Monday Night Bordeaux (Hawksmoor, Guildhall): Quite a forward claret, a bit in your face - but gracefully so. Immediate fruit hit, perhaps more red than cassis actually, and an easy drinker that proves that left bank 2005s can be good to go even at the tender young age of just 18. Very enjoyable even if it couldn't match the Barton.
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Monday night Bordeaux (Hawksmoor Guildhall): I'd expected this to be a more approachable sibling to the Leoville Barton '05, and indeed it was, but that wine was overly smooth and approachable and accordingly so was this one, and to a greater degree - in fact, it was slightly boring. Elegant in a 'smooth' way, bright berry fruit verging on sorbet, some (nice) oak noticeable on the finish. Became a bit less primary with air. Hmm.
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Bordeaux at Hawksmoor: This probably suffered in comparison to some really special wines on the night, and the '05 vintage isn't really to my taste - but I found this quite rich, pulpy and slightly simple. Tasty yes but I'm looking for complexity and interest from a wine of this calibre
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Decanted 2 hours. Intense nose full of pencil shavings, violet, pine needle and blackcurrants. So classic! Palate is rich, round - super liveliness with fresh acidity, clear medium & integrated tannins, lots of blackcurrants, thyme, gentle fennel. Long persistence with plenty of mouth feel. Excellent. Still feels quite young but opens up in the glass. Drink 2023-35.
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This was elegant and perfectly balanced. The mid weight palate is driven by a core of beautiful pure purple fruits, enhanced by a developing complexity, with a seam of graphite, hint of tobacco and bay leaf, and a slightly floral/violet touch. Medium length finish, with a slightly marine/saline element that complements the perfectly ripe fruit and brings you back for more. If you’re being picky this lacks the intensity of the very best in Bordeaux, but it’s just beautifully put together, elegant and delicious. Highly recommended.
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My notes below, I think, are still valid, but this time round I kept some of the wine for 24 hours, and it transformed it. What was somewhat understated after three hours on day 1 has now become deep and complex after 24 hours.
This is not the first time I have encountered this with reds but even with whites. To put it simply: if you open a bottle and drink it in the same evening, you are missing something. Bad news? Absolutely. But there you are. Truth is not interested in news, bad or good.
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Surprisingly youthful wine. Slight green tannic approach in palate. Very good mouthfeel, well balanced and plush. Holds structure well in the glass. Very good wine. Will survive and could slightly improve over next three years
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Sadly, our last bottle, but we sure did send it off with a bang. Decanted 2 hours ahead of dinner and paired with a seared, well-marbled rib-eye. Dark purple color. The nose is starting to transition into some deep floral aromas of violets, cherry blossoms, and chocolate malt with some leather, tobacco, and blackberry pie notes emerging. The palate is medium, square, compact, and juicy, bringing a nice balance of red (cherries, raspberries) and blue (blackberries, blueberries, plums) fruit with some soy, bay leaf, and mixed herbs notes lingering into the tannic yet refined finish. Intense fruit explodes on the palate but is quickly faded into the other elements, making this balanced and very drinkable. Best years are ahead, so drink 2023-2033. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 94.
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Decanted 1hr30. Delightful ripe nose with blackcurrant, cedar and a light sweet spice. Palate has excellent balance - fine tannins, lots of fresh acidity and gentle blackcurrant notes - backdrop of violet with a little austere graphite. Really starting to enter its drinking window now - softening and has real suppleness. Drink now-2032.
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Purple/red color. Straight up classic Bordeaux. Plum, blackberries, cedar block and hints of menthol on the nose. On the palette I detected some pyrazines. Good acidity, fine tannins and a long finish. I could have sworn this was a younger wine. Drinks beautifully now or can be aged further
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Dark ruby-purple. Full bodied. Blackberry/cassis but few secondary notes for me beyond the slightest hint of menthol. Tight and tannic. Predominately front and mid palate. Paired with T-bone steak. Was very prepared to love this, but felt a bit let down. Hope it improves, as I work though the case, but worry that the fruit doesn’t outlive the tannins.
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One year since last tasting. Sleek black fruit. Elegant, with good form and acid. But tight as a drum. Reticent nose and tannins not fully resolved. Give this some time. Suspect glacial pace; don’t anticipate opening next bottle of this case (purchased en primeur) for a few years.
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Very dark red/purple color. PNP, drank a couple glasses over 3 hours. This really evolved well over the first hour and was quite open for business. Graphite, tobacco, cassis, oak, cedar, and hints of menthol on the nose. The palate is nicely balanced, cassis, tobacco, black raspberry, exotic spices, cedarbox, oak, medium round tannins and fairly full bodied. This is well put together and drinking quite well presently. This should go for some time. Drink or hold.
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Nose of red cherry, black cherry, and leather, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, great Bordeaux QPR, and a long finish. Photo uploaded.
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Nose of violets, black cherry, and barnyard, same on the palate, mefium/big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, at peak, can last 10 years, long finish, photo uploaded.
(5/31/21) From a 750ml purchased on the secondary market. I had hoped that this would be one of the early developing bottles some CT tasters have described, but I had no such luck.
There was zero development in this very youthful and disjointed bottle. It was very expressive, but the expressions were all out of balance and in competition with one another. The nose and dense palate were packed with bushels of bright cherries and tangy cranberries, but there were also waves of cedar and oak to contend with. The palate was very tannic, too.
This bottle was entirely without pleasure for me, so after and hour in the decanter and two-thirds of a glass, I emptied the decanter into the bottle, vacuum sealed it, and put it in the fridge. 13% abv. (**/14/85)
Day 2: On the evening of the second day, after 24 hours in the fridge under vacuum seal, this wine had improved greatly. The tannins had smoothed out quite a bit, and the wine was displaying some primary black fruits and chocolate covered cherries to go with the tangy cranberries, which were less pronounced. The secondary notes of unintegrated oak were still showing but at at a much more acceptable level. After time in the glass, some very faint undergrowth even began to come and go. I’m upgrading my score: ***+/91/15.5
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Consistent with many other CT notes, this is surprisingly youthful looking. The cork was only wet ~1mm and it probably would have held solid for another 50 years at least! The wine is purple throughout without a hint of bricking. Despite that tight cork, and youthful appearance, this smells like Bordeaux with a bit of age on the nose- red and black fruits, some leather and tobacco, but smoothed down by a bit of age. This is a suave smooth operator, not an exuberant child or teenager. The palate confirms the nose, a wonderful balance between young flavors of youth with developed leather tobacco notes. There is some of that classic cedar and cigar, along with fresh baked bread, though a bit in the background. Tannins resolved. Overall integrated and a very pleasant drink. Will last for 10 years longer at least, but is at a perfect for me.
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Good solid closure. Vibrant ruby not even the merest hint of garnet - very narrow clear rim - amazingly youthful appearance. Nose is all cassis and perhaps wet earth. Palate is mid black fruit - maybe blackcurrant? Nice if a little loose and perhaps slightly cooked. Tannin is fine but quite firm - perhaps as with all 05’s. Nice wine and certainly becoming more mellow as the tannins integrate as time goes by. Overall it’s a keeper and should be good for a few years yet.
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I enjoyed this more than previously and got to taste it alongside the 2002. It’s a littymore modern than the 2002 but it doesn’t scream “ripe vintage”. That said the 2002 is vastly better than it’s given credit for.
Rather classic claret.
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Well for me this needed a 2 hour decant. Very St Julian but not very 2005... more like 2004?... lean, mean. Bright and fresh.. tannic in abundance, balanced with he great structure and lovely dark fruits. Earlier bottles have been variably received but this bodes well, for drinking over the next 5 years.
Nose of red cherry, black cherry, and cigar box, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, at peak and drinking well right now, not likely to improve or merit a higher score wither, mouth filling fruit, almost juicy, great Bordeaux value as usual, and a long finish. Photo uploaded.
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First bottles of two cases. Fully mature, tannins completely integrated (no decant, but opened bottle about 45 minutes before pouring). Lovely focus. Lots of black fruit. This is in a great place.
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This is in a perfect place. I have coravined other 2005 Bordeaux that are still too young but this one is ready. Plenty of luscious red fruits, cassis, and tertiary components working well together. Not sure I would decant this as it was great out of the gate and may have lost just a little charm after being opened several hours.
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Still prominent oak on the nose. Classic profile with black currant and cassis. Tannins in check. Overall sleek and pleasing, albeit with limited depth and a short finish.
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This Langoa is still in a slumber but beginning to wake up if forced....right bank 05s are a better pick for now but some left bank 05s are starting to open i am looking forward after all this time to see what they have in store
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Nose of red cherry, black cherry, and cigar box, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, subtle, almost elegant, mouth filling fruit, at peak, enjoy now rather than later, medium/long finish. Photo uploaded.
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Well, what can I add to the notes and scores (!) below, which range from 85 to 93. How is such divergence possible? I ask myself. After two hours in the decanter, and a little more in the glass, I find that the wine has the familiar density of Langoa-Barton: an almost impenetrable deep colour. The nose is delicately lifted, earth, cigar, chocolate, very attractive if a little understated. Good mouthfeel at front of palate, and balance throughout, but strangely light in terms of weight (not what I was expecting from this wine in this vintage). Reasonable aftertaste with slightly drying tannin and dark fruit.
Probably at its best around about now. It doesn't have the depth of fruit to develop much further.
A wine that
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Medium deep red to edge, no browning, attractive bouquet , cedar, full on the palate, soft tannins, nice long finish , drinking well A tad pricey even en primeur £42
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Sour red fruits, cassis, smoke, blackcurrant leaves on the nose Perfectly ripe. High acidity which really lifts this wine. Decadent fruit. Chocolate. Saliva inducing. Incense/cedar note which I always find from Langoa & Leoville. Very good value. I have acquired more.
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Surprisingly light – almost thin - for 2005. Quite floral on the nose and hugely drinkable with soft red fruits, juiciness, and some classic claret graphite/tobacco/earth to balance it out. Nice and easy-going, but needs drinking up.
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Deep purple. The big tannins prevalent in 2005 Bordeaux is well tamed here. Soft and round. Light body. A classic St Julien. Has good balance, finesse but doesn’t have quite the power or density that one sees elsewhere in 2005 Bordeaux.
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Nose of red cherry, black cherry, black berry, barnyard, cigar box, and dry earth, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, showing its age so I suggest you drink up now, lovely secondary flavors, and a long finish.
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Nose of red cherry, black cherry, black berry, cigar box, and dry earth, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, at peak, time to enjoy is now, lovely juice, lovely secondary flavors, and a long finish and juicy aftertaste.
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The most modern tasting Langoa or Leovile B I have tasted. Very outgoing on the pop on night one. More strict on night two. Dried currants and graphite. Fine, polished tannins. Good length. Clean, dry finish. Very, very good and a pleasant surprise. 92
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Lastage wine (last) N - tomatoe, bell pepper M - beautifully juicy. A touch funky, however the juice powers thru. Open for business and showing very nicely. I think this is right in its window.
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What a difference between this bottle and my last! Based on the last bottle, I thought this wine was good to go and last night I dug into another... Darkest burgundy color and perfectly clear. After 10 hours exposure to air the nose is much more closed than the last visit. Blackberry and sour cherry above tobacco and tar. The flavors are blackberry compote and cherry to match the nose and are followed by cedar, mint, menthol, vanilla and leather against very present tannin and wonderfully youthful freshness. Very long and complex finish as the fruit fades to the background revealing the layers of flavors. This is very good wine indeed, just before it's peak. I will not rush into popping another cork.
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Disappointed relative to expectations, though at least in part it likely reflects the stage of evolution of the wine. Still fairly closed, on the lean side, and not giving a lot away on nose or in mouth.
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Nothing speaks to me about this wine more clearly than how a friend reacted when she tasted it. Her eyes slowly shut as she moved backward a step or two and softly said, "This will do..."
Pulled a nearly perfect cork with 1mm of color penetration, except for one tiny 3mm long x 3mm wide tapered plume. 2 hour decant off of light sediment. Deep maroon color showing little sign of aging on the rim. As the wine opened up, the aroma bloomed. Black and red jams filled the glass, as did graphite, earth and sweet vanilla. Light whisps of cigar smoke and evergreen also swirled in the air before me.
My expectation was only heightened by what preceded my first sip. I was not disappointed. This wine is concentrated, ripe and well balanced. Tannins are well resolved and the purity of black currants, plum, stewed cherries I tasted were perfect against a cascade of cocoa, licorice, cedar, tobacco and leather. The finish was alluring and nearly perfect. If only there was a bit more.
If I had a bunch of this wine, I would definitely check in on it now. It has a beautiful short to medium term window opening. Not sure where it goes after a few years, but I admit that I am not too fond of really old wine.
It seems a shame to have to quantify the experience above, but I will... 13 of 15 on nose, perfect on appearance, 18 of 20 on flavor, balance and finish and 9 of 10 on overall experience.
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Better on the nose than the palate. I wanted to like this wine. Just a "dead" wine though. Acidity has waned , fruit non descript, and tannins dissolved. The bottle did not seem flawed, but this one somehow has went way past its peak.
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Paired with homemade split bean and ham soup. Much improved over 3+ years ago, with an incredible floral nose (cherry blossoms, raspberry compote, milk chocolate, tobacco leaf, mint, and evergreen) combined with a medium frame and scattered red (cherries, raspberries) and blue fruit notes (blueberries, huckleberries, boysenberries) into a savory, rustic, supple, yet dry finish. Drink 2020-2030.
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Dinner at Wah Lok. Double decanted. Deep ruby. Medium body. Tannins well resolved. Good concentration, densely fruited, reflecting the generosity of the vintage. Graceful and elegant, a classic Bordeaux. Overdelivers relative to price point and growth classification.
deeply colored, some bricking at rim. aromatically riper than average even for 2005, slightly stewed red and black fruits, integrated barrique spice, some tertiary earthy aromas, hints of brett. on the palate high acids, full midpalate, high amount of firm, but ripe tannins that are starting to integrate, moderate alcohol. balanced wine with good length, excellent intensity and complexity. high degree of ripeness worries me a bit about how well this wine will remain focused as the structural elements integrate. if i had a bunch i'd watch this wine pretty closely over the next 2-3 years...
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Tobacco, blackberry; some depth and a certain intensity, but only medium length finish; good but not exceptional; may improve over time but comparatively short finish suggests limits
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Decanted for 2.5 hours. Deep crimson/chocolate with little signs of age. The nose is a mixed bag of floral notes, strawberry, black fruit, tinges of leather, and a bit of sweetness. The attack is powerful with strong gripping tannins that fill your mouth almost immediately followed by a mouthful of blackberry, but surprisingly not as sweet as what the nose leads on. There’s an adequate dose of acidity that provides some freshness and a bit of lightness/elegance to counteract the tannin. Some cedar, leather and faint hints of barnyard starting to show through. Plenty of structure to go for a long time but a delicious bottle of wine drinking very well right now. One of my favorite bottles to date.
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Monthly Tuesday group "The Dead Sparrow" #026; Bordeaux 2005 (by DJ): In the bouquet dark berries, graphite, some barnyard and luxurious oak. On the palate dark berries, some sweetness, coffee, blackberries, good acidity, firm and sticky tannin. Beautiful wine showing some early stage of maturity with a touch of soy on the palate.
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This is a delicious bottle of wine with all the precision and intensity of 2005 in evidence. The colour is deep crimson with a nose of blackcurrant, dark plums, touches of redcurrant, cedar and liquorice. The palate has beautiful intensity and drive. While it remains quite tight the fruit fills the mouth and balances firm but elegant and fine tannins. This is a classic top year St Julien with plenty of room for evolution. On the other hand its delicious to enjoy its freshness and youth right now.
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Decanted 90 minutes. Showing little signs of ageing on rim - still deep red colour. Nose showing sweet spice, redcurrants, light lavender - quite primary still but little secondary flavours showing. Palate very firm and intense - big tannins, though softening, with redcurrants again on palate. Still quite tight and closed overall. Young and needs time to develop. Drink 2022-37.
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Extremely impressive on first opening, it shut down pretty comprehensively after an hour in a decanter. The initial impression supports all the good things I have read about this though it needs a huge amount of patience.
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double decanted, waited 90min before re-tasting. Decent '05 is what i would say. Rather well integrated tannins, not a lot on the palate to keep the taste going. Somehow wished more out of it
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Red and black fruits with some spice on the nose. Secondary characteristics just coming through. Medium body with taste in similar profile as the nose. Medium length with some leathery tannins. Wine is generally soft though. This is good for drinking now but will continue to evolve.
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Dark ruby, gave this a one hour decant but two hours would have been better. Very enjoyable now with decant and this wine is probably still improving. Excellent with a long finish.
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Decanted 1 hour plus. Nose is sweet, smudgy, diffuse, slightly biscuity, cherry. Fresh, mineral, high toned, Cranberry, cherry, towards citrusy (unusual and not so pleasant at this time). Milk chocolate. A light coating of tannins. Used Zalto Universal.
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Monthly Tasting Group HWS #117; Bordeaux St. Julien except Léoville wines.... (By VD and @ VD): Luxurious bouquet with ripe dark forest fruits, vanilla from the oak, cedar and minerals like graphite. On the palate red and dark forest fruits, cassis, some bell pepper, beautiful oak, good acidity and a firm dose of well hidden tannin. This wine is starting to show its beauty now and will probably show even more beauty and complexity a decade from now; so around 2027. 93 - 95 for now.
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Leoville Barton at Gordon's (Gordons Waltham): color dense garnet. nose has ripe plum w hints of chocolate and spice. swishing this unleashes serious tannin along w cheek coating acidity. sipping tames the structure with the intensity/density of the fruit, but this is still structurally tough because of its youth. given time I expect this will be really good
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Leoville Barton Tasting Seminar - (1986 - 2011) (Gordon's Wines - Waltham, MA): Nose: Very showy sexy candied cherry, sweet oak and chocolate/brownie notes. I would never identify this as Bordeaux, much more Napa on the nose. Palate: Sweet Black Cherry and Plum. Lush fruit with Cola, Oak and Chocolate notes. Finish: Oak heavy, but good red berry and spice notes.
A bit confected wtih more of a napa personality to me.
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Delighted that this is (after half a day in an open bottle) now approachable. There is enormous density here; concentrated, sappy, red berry (typical, I have found, of many '05s), leather, Asian spice and cedar. Light on its feet too, this concentration never feels in the least bit heavy. Although great to drink now, it feels like we are drinking the raw materials which the real wine will emerge from. Looking forward to its life in its twenties, it feels frivolous to drink before then. 94
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Ready to go with limited decant, medium/deep ruby, medium/full body fresh dark fruit, red berries, hints of vanilla. Holding on to a bit of youthful acidity with softened tannin.
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Soft tannins, some oak, cedar, tobacco and quite a dry finish. Very big on the nose. I would definately not decant this wine as it feels delicate though not at the end of its drinking window. I like this wine a lot. The wine could easily be kept for another two years possibly longer, however i doubt it will develop any further.
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Opened and let air 90-min ahead of seared filet, roasted potatoes, and steamed broccoli. Dark crimson color with a purple/burgundy hue. The nose really opened up after 3+ hours, bringing notes of spring violets, candied raspberries, tart blackberries, fresh strawberries, wild herbs, and subtle whiffs of anise, cinnamon, and vanilla bean. The palate is medium, square, tart, and juicy, bringing lush boysenberries, blueberries, blackcurrant, cassis, dried leather, tobacco, and cherry pie into the finish, which seemed a little thin and uneven. Feels like this wine needs to add some weight to the palate and especially the tail. Still, great flavor profile, structure, and balance, a classic claret. Should be best after 2020.
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Finally found the time to pull this wine out and try out the blockbuster vintage. The wine pours a dark maroon, inky purple color with very thick long legs. With time and aeration, about two hours, the wine starts to unravel and reveals a complex and concentrated nose dominated by primary black fruits and supported by graphite, earth, sous bois, and tobacco. Although the wine is still in its infancy, this is a very classic Bordeaux nose. On the palate, the wine is surprisingly approachable with impressive viscosity and well-developed tannic structure. Flavors of lead pencils, blackberries, mushrooms and earth particularly shine through. The finish is rather long and ends on a smoky note. This is a well-constructed and masculine wine and should hit its peak with a couple more years of cellaring. But for now, the balance, as well as the power, coupled with great QPR (just 50 USD) truly places this left banker on the map as one of the greats in this stellar vintage.
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La Fête du Bordeaux (Park Hyatt, Chicago): Crimson color with bright ruby rim. Modest nose of cinnamon. Slight palate, long but not broad. Rather lean, with some twiggy berry flavors. Tannins on this one are still unfolding. Nice enough, but falls short of the epic reputation of this vintage. I'd revisit this in 5-10 years.
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Tasted next to a barrel sample of 2014. Still quite restrained, there is wonderful ripe fruit on the nose, cherries, cassis, dark berries as well as tobacco, spices, earth. Grippy on the palate with powerful tannins, but not austere, there is good fruit underneath. Well balanced, just a bit tight still. Needs a couple of more years. 92-93+(+?)
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Approachable with its medium/full bodied, fresh, red berry charm, the wine is fresh, crisp and bright, finishing with ample tannins amidst the buckets of fresh picked cherries in the finish.
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Approachable, but showing very young and primary, with a cabernet-heavy nose with only faint traces of Bordeaux character at this point (a little cedar and whiffs of leather). Beautiful balance on the palate, with substantial but soft tannins, ample red fruit, and plenty of freshness from the acidity. Tremendous potential here.
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Dark and glossy with a hint of evolution towards the rim. Spicy on the nose, showing fine fruit, quite charming, expressive and fine. Really well structured on the palate, pure fruit, ripe and round tannins, fresh, powerful. Wonderful length. Still a little tight but becoming approachable, this is a great Langoa Barton with a long life ahead. 93-94+
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Expressive nose, wonderfully concentrated fruit, forest notes, tobacco. Quite delicious with great balance, slightly mineral and very good length. Although also not quite ready yet, it is more accessible than Leoville Barton, but less complex. Very good. 92-93+
2 hr decant- medium bodied, average balance, average finish, no where near prime but drinking nicely right now. Should hit prime in 5+ years. Average value.
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aired a short time. not much nose. but medium to long finish. some solids when decanting. others are suggesting the ideal drinking window is years away, but this seems ready now. not a heavyweight. but solid bordeaux stored at perfect temperature for 7 years. a good QPR at $90.00. would buy again.
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Perfect mix of red shades by desk-light after a power failure. A range of red fruits on nose from cherries, currants, etc. but all red. Palate of supple fruit and "strict"supporting tannins yet a bit trim for a ripe vintage. Maintains a traditional claret lover's style while satisfying the modern clean fad. Classic and elegant and one day I might meet Anthony Barton. $80/bottle! Buy it, age it and open a few now if you must, and rock! JM
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Beautifully perfumed nose of flowers and herbs, with spotlessly clean cool stone and black fruit. This took at least five hours to shed the mouth coating tannins and reveal a more approachable side. However this is still completely dominated by structure and while you can imagine what wonders the rich blackcurrant fruit will yield in the future, this is a decade away from the wine it ought to be. Not rated.
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First bottle of a case and a half. I love Langoa so naturally have high expectations for the 2005, and this certainly did not diasappoint. 11 hour decant definitely helped soften it up. Nose was full of both black and red fruit, and it was very smooth to drink with that customary medium bodied style. Still pretty tannic. Very long finish.
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First bottle of the case opened and the Langoa did not disappoint. Classic, refined Bordeaux nose was full of black cherry, currants, graphite pencil shavings, leather and some floral notes. Medium to full bodied on the palate. Tannins were firm, slightly grainy but well integrated. Finish lingered 45+ seconds. Only thing holding my score back was that it was not a little "bigger", but a super wine for sure and I look forward to enjoying the remaining bottles for many years ahead. Paired wonderfully with Beef Bourguignon.
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Dark purple colour. Nose of sour cherries and vanilla. Cherries and currant dark fruit with hint of vanilla. Nice on first day though not overwhelming in terms of depth and length. It took the second day to get some pencil lead and minerality to develop and it was less primary. Good but can only be evaluated properly in 5+ years. For now a holding 91pts.
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Goedhius Bordeaux Cru Classe Tasting (Saatchi Gallery): Nose of dark cherries, tobacco, plumbs and vanilla. Smooth complex mouth with a medium length. Still young with a lot of tannins noticeable and will last for many more years. Come back in 5 years.
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Vertical tasting of 94, 98 through to 05. Dark purple. Even at 4 hours in the decanter the nose was limited, but then suddenly opened up and dark cherry, mineral and violet aromas mixed with the vanilla. The palate is still of predominantly red fruit flavours, with high acidity and the tannins are tough, but the whole is certainly balanced and there are background complex aromatics. (Some tasters voted this their current favourite.) Excellent length, but dominated by the tannins. Will be fantastic in time.
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25th Anniversary (a few days early) (Charleston Grill, Charleston, SC): Poured at the Charleston Grill, Charleston, SC., notes from memory a few days later. After the disaster of a flawed Pichon Lalande, I was faced with making a choice from the extensive list at the Charleston Grill, while the meal waited in the wings. The Maitre d' proposed the '86 Pichon Baron, and while I would very much have liked to go with that, the $325 price tag was too much for me, especially since I was already down a bottle. I went with the 2005 Langoa Barton, instead. Right there with the customer service, Micky suggested a splash decant, which was a must. Even so, the purple color suggested a wine that was too young, and that proved to be correct. The wine was too big, and although it had powerful fruit, it wasn't quite enough to overcome the wall of tannin. After about an hour, the wine started to relax and sing a bit, but of course by that time the entrees were done. It's a very good wine, though, with big cassis, a shot of Rhone-like licorice, great acidity, and a very intense mineral core. It needs another five years, though, and then will no doubt drink well for 20. I gave the wine a 91 score now, but I believe it has the potential to add significantly to that as the tannic wall begins to break down and the fruit mellows with secondary depth. This was a very good bottle, it just wasn't quite ready for prime time. Micky called it "a nice little wine". If only I could afford such wine every day....
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Wine Education Service Chateau Langoa Barton Vertical (Imperial College, London): Easily the wine of the night in the LB vertical. Lives up to the vintage hype. This wine is a supernatural thriller. Dark, brooding, intense and forbidding colour. Initially quite restrained on the nose. Early aromas are those of stones and minerals; chilling, almost sinister. Then comes the temptation. With time the sour cherries, plums and cassis notes begin to rise from the inky black depths of the tasting glass; all the earlier warning signs are forgotten and you just have to take a sip. First comes the wonderful pleasure of the intense ripe blackcurrant fruit. Then the palate comes alive with the fresh acidity. But it's too late, you're now in the wine's clutches, any attempt at escape is futile. The tannin bites. Your mouth dries and puckers. You've committed infanticide. But you know you can't wait to come back for more. A great wine.
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great nose well balanced, floral palate was smooth, even without decanting, nice mouthfeel, and long finish. I was worried that is would be too soon to open, but it was worth it. earth, leather, blue and blackberries. widh I bought more
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Nose - Lovely nose; rasberry, blueberry. Palette - somewhat round. Rasberry, blueberry. Some tanin, some bitterness. Nice, but not as nice as the Leoville Barton 2004 I had afew days before this. I'd put this at a 91 or 92 and the Leoville Barton at a 93 or 94.
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Bordeaux Update (Wine Exchange - Orange, CA): Very pretty and pure on the nose with aromas of red berries, currant, and flowers. The palate offers gorgeous red fruit flavors of currant, plum, and stones. The ripeness is ideal here with no edges at all to the fruit. The tannins are firm yet approachable, which bodes well for the future of this wine. This is likely somewhat closed so I can only imagine it will get even better. 92+
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medium body and translucent dark red colour - the nose is wonderful with cedar shavings and some blackcurrant and dark plum fruit. So ready to drink right now. There is a hint of vanilla but the structure of this wine is balanced and not too heavy.
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Very velvety, depth on nose and palate. An underlying almost brooding feel, but just about the best Langoa I have had ever. Confirmed tasting in New York. A real success for this estate. Bravo!
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BORDEAUX 2005 / Cabernet rules; 4/5/2006-4/10/2006 (Bordeaux): Nuanced, lovely cassis nose precedes a delicate palate, yet possessing underlying depth and power, plus fruit flavors and minerality. Very nice – and more immediately pleasurable than the Leoville Barton – but not as complex! Tasted again at the chateau, with comparable notes. 91-93
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4/12/2024 - M.Batard wrote: 91 Points
Poured through Venturi. Enjoyed this much more than last bottle two years ago; seems to have knit together well, with fruit outlasting the tannins.
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4/7/2024 - Eastwood Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic Langoa. Medium weight, fruit/alcohol/tannins all balanced. At its best. Drink in the next 2-3 years.
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3/30/2024 - Sotto325 wrote: 90 Points
Not impressive. Coravin'd 8 oz. Let it sit in a good Bordeaux glass for 30 min then consumed over another 30 minutes. I beleive the others have had a more exciting interface with this wine and hope that perhaps this just needs more time to unfold. But I am skeptical as I do not sense the same St Julien fine military grandeur that a Ducrcu, Beychevelle or Leoville delivers. Interesting to see that Jancis downgraded her score over time.
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1/31/2024 - sjoe@assante.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful nose, showing lots of black fruit, sweet tobacco, a tad dusty. On the palate, nice acidity, medium tannins, long finish. Black tea and black fruit. Needed 1.5 hrs in the decanter to improve. Could age longer if you want more tertiary notes.
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1/26/2024 - J'agnes Likes this wine: 93 Points
Perfect closure. Deepest garnet - vibrant with no hint of bricking up and such a narrow clear rim. Amazing after 19 years! Nose is still primary fruit with a hint of smokiness. Blackcurrant - lean and green - soft tannins but as with all 05’s plenty of them! Super soft furry landing - decanted but no time so maybe a little longer decant in order?
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1/19/2024 - peetee Likes this wine: 94 Points
My next bottle and it surpassed the last. This is really in a lovely place. Yes to the other supporters of this wine.. exotic, chewy and very well structured for a few more years left. Fruit is black and wonderfully not over ripe.. just very very drinkable.. with a simple lamb and some kind of red wine jus. 4 hour decant.
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12/10/2023 - Dj6544 wrote: 96 Points
The most remarkable thing about this is the exoticism. The Asian spice, soy sauce, tart cherry chocolate. The finish that lingers for minutes. Langoas are routinely solid but rarely this fun. This is too good not to enjoy now and the rounded tannin and settled
but firm structure provides no excuse not to.
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12/2/2023 - SussexSB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Didn’t get to day two with this. Was second in a side-by-side with Cantenac Brown 09 (Marg). PnP. Then left. Some slight chew. Robust but can see why the plaudits like this. Dark, brooding. Linear nose. Give it air. I can’t see how others got the best out of no decanting. In summary, not in prime drinking spot (I can hear the CT voices of disagreement). But good clobber indeed. Great QPR.
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11/27/2023 - jkoenen wrote: 94 Points
This is really good!
Beautiful mixture of traditional Bdx secondary aromatics, powdery tannines, supporting refreshing acidity and modern-day fruit purity and cleanliness.
Wonderful wine.
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11/26/2023 - HOS wrote: 93 Points
PnP. Drinking great now. Currant, espresso in a medium bodied wine. Strong finish.
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11/25/2023 - SteveVermeer Likes this wine: 91 Points
This out punches it’s weight class, I don’t think it will get much better. Enjoy in the next year.
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8/16/2023 - swade wrote: 91 Points
Black currants and graphite. Good, clean finish. Medium body. In a good place right now. Showing well with a swirl after opening. 91
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7/15/2023 - Dj6544 wrote: 95 Points
Asian notes of soy and five spice, overlaid by wafts of menthol, sandalwood and rich, sweet red berry. This hasn’t left its fruit phase (no sign of secondary notes) but has really softened and is relaxed and easygoing. This is drop dead gorgeous and dangerously seductive. Will obviously have a great second life though if you’re after something primary but very settled, there is every reason to start drinking through the case now.
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6/15/2023 - PlanetX wrote: 94 Points
Ridiculously drop dead gorgeous. Perfect drinking window now. Outshone the 1999 Leoville Barton pairing in the cheese plate course. Served blind and everyone guessed home wine but wide range of vintage guesses. Ex-chateau with Damien Barton.
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5/25/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Let's see. It's national wine day in the states, so why not pick a French wine. 3-1/2 years have flown by since my last visit. A touch more garnet on the rim. Bouquet is a bit more reserved than I recall, but gaining complexity. Palate is a touch softer, but still fresh and full of life. No complex notes taken.
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4/8/2023 - gout wrote: 90 Points
Now drinking well but will still keep
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3/20/2023 - oenanthe Likes this wine: 91 Points
Monday Night Bordeaux (Hawksmoor, Guildhall): Quite a forward claret, a bit in your face - but gracefully so. Immediate fruit hit, perhaps more red than cassis actually, and an easy drinker that proves that left bank 2005s can be good to go even at the tender young age of just 18. Very enjoyable even if it couldn't match the Barton.
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3/20/2023 - NickA Likes this wine: 90 Points
Monday night Bordeaux (Hawksmoor Guildhall): I'd expected this to be a more approachable sibling to the Leoville Barton '05, and indeed it was, but that wine was overly smooth and approachable and accordingly so was this one, and to a greater degree - in fact, it was slightly boring. Elegant in a 'smooth' way, bright berry fruit verging on sorbet, some (nice) oak noticeable on the finish. Became a bit less primary with air. Hmm.
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3/20/2023 - Joshvoulters Likes this wine: 89 Points
Bordeaux at Hawksmoor: This probably suffered in comparison to some really special wines on the night, and the '05 vintage isn't really to my taste - but I found this quite rich, pulpy and slightly simple. Tasty yes but I'm looking for complexity and interest from a wine of this calibre
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3/7/2023 - GNBB wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Intense nose full of pencil shavings, violet, pine needle and blackcurrants. So classic! Palate is rich, round - super liveliness with fresh acidity, clear medium & integrated tannins, lots of blackcurrants, thyme, gentle fennel. Long persistence with plenty of mouth feel. Excellent. Still feels quite young but opens up in the glass. Drink 2023-35.
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2/24/2023 - Hendmo Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was elegant and perfectly balanced. The mid weight palate is driven by a core of beautiful pure purple fruits, enhanced by a developing complexity, with a seam of graphite, hint of tobacco and bay leaf, and a slightly floral/violet touch. Medium length finish, with a slightly marine/saline element that complements the perfectly ripe fruit and brings you back for more. If you’re being picky this lacks the intensity of the very best in Bordeaux, but it’s just beautifully put together, elegant and delicious. Highly recommended.
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11/15/2022 - vide Likes this wine: 93 Points
My notes below, I think, are still valid, but this time round I kept some of the wine for 24 hours, and it transformed it. What was somewhat understated after three hours on day 1 has now become deep and complex after 24 hours.
This is not the first time I have encountered this with reds but even with whites. To put it simply: if you open a bottle and drink it in the same evening, you are missing something. Bad news? Absolutely. But there you are. Truth is not interested in news, bad or good.
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9/17/2022 - Sonoma Duck Likes this wine: 94 Points
Medium ruby, rich nose. Long finish. Excellent wine that is young mature.
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5/3/2022 - SaltWine wrote:
Surprisingly youthful wine. Slight green tannic approach in palate. Very good mouthfeel, well balanced and plush. Holds structure well in the glass. Very good wine. Will survive and could slightly improve over next three years
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3/26/2022 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sadly, our last bottle, but we sure did send it off with a bang. Decanted 2 hours ahead of dinner and paired with a seared, well-marbled rib-eye. Dark purple color. The nose is starting to transition into some deep floral aromas of violets, cherry blossoms, and chocolate malt with some leather, tobacco, and blackberry pie notes emerging. The palate is medium, square, compact, and juicy, bringing a nice balance of red (cherries, raspberries) and blue (blackberries, blueberries, plums) fruit with some soy, bay leaf, and mixed herbs notes lingering into the tannic yet refined finish. Intense fruit explodes on the palate but is quickly faded into the other elements, making this balanced and very drinkable. Best years are ahead, so drink 2023-2033. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 94.
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3/5/2022 - GNBB wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1hr30. Delightful ripe nose with blackcurrant, cedar and a light sweet spice. Palate has excellent balance - fine tannins, lots of fresh acidity and gentle blackcurrant notes - backdrop of violet with a little austere graphite. Really starting to enter its drinking window now - softening and has real suppleness. Drink now-2032.
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2/20/2022 - motuski Likes this wine: 93 Points
Purple/red color. Straight up classic Bordeaux. Plum, blackberries, cedar block and hints of menthol on the nose. On the palette I detected some pyrazines. Good acidity, fine tannins and a long finish. I could have sworn this was a younger wine. Drinks beautifully now or can be aged further
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2/17/2022 - M.Batard wrote: 89 Points
Dark ruby-purple. Full bodied. Blackberry/cassis but few secondary notes for me beyond the slightest hint of menthol. Tight and tannic. Predominately front and mid palate. Paired with T-bone steak. Was very prepared to love this, but felt a bit let down. Hope it improves, as I work though the case, but worry that the fruit doesn’t outlive the tannins.
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12/14/2021 - chefdilletante wrote:
One year since last tasting. Sleek black fruit. Elegant, with good form and acid. But tight as a drum. Reticent nose and tannins not fully resolved. Give this some time. Suspect glacial pace; don’t anticipate opening next bottle of this case (purchased en primeur) for a few years.
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9/4/2021 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Very dark red/purple color. PNP, drank a couple glasses over 3 hours. This really evolved well over the first hour and was quite open for business. Graphite, tobacco, cassis, oak, cedar, and hints of menthol on the nose. The palate is nicely balanced, cassis, tobacco, black raspberry, exotic spices, cedarbox, oak, medium round tannins and fairly full bodied. This is well put together and drinking quite well presently. This should go for some time. Drink or hold.
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7/19/2021 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose of red cherry, black cherry, and leather, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, great Bordeaux QPR, and a long finish. Photo uploaded.
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6/27/2021 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose of violets, black cherry, and barnyard, same on the palate, mefium/big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, at peak, can last 10 years, long finish, photo uploaded.
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6/7/2021 - swade wrote: 92 Points
Another excellent bottle. Notes from January 2020 still apply. 92
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5/30/2021 - Jake Barnes Likes this wine: 91 Points
(5/31/21) From a 750ml purchased on the secondary market. I had hoped that this would be one of the early developing bottles some CT tasters have described, but I had no such luck.
There was zero development in this very youthful and disjointed bottle. It was very expressive, but the expressions were all out of balance and in competition with one another. The nose and dense palate were packed with bushels of bright cherries and tangy cranberries, but there were also waves of cedar and oak to contend with. The palate was very tannic, too.
This bottle was entirely without pleasure for me, so after and hour in the decanter and two-thirds of a glass, I emptied the decanter into the bottle, vacuum sealed it, and put it in the fridge. 13% abv. (**/14/85)
Day 2: On the evening of the second day, after 24 hours in the fridge under vacuum seal, this wine had improved greatly. The tannins had smoothed out quite a bit, and the wine was displaying some primary black fruits and chocolate covered cherries to go with the tangy cranberries, which were less pronounced. The secondary notes of unintegrated oak were still showing but at at a much more acceptable level. After time in the glass, some very faint undergrowth even began to come and go. I’m upgrading my score: ***+/91/15.5
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5/28/2021 - NickRioja wrote: 93 Points
Placed a couple more on the score. This wine was so good. I think the 2005 is on the money right now so dive in! It’s got everything u want
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4/18/2021 - NoahCap wrote:
Consistent with many other CT notes, this is surprisingly youthful looking. The cork was only wet ~1mm and it probably would have held solid for another 50 years at least! The wine is purple throughout without a hint of bricking. Despite that tight cork, and youthful appearance, this smells like Bordeaux with a bit of age on the nose- red and black fruits, some leather and tobacco, but smoothed down by a bit of age. This is a suave smooth operator, not an exuberant child or teenager. The palate confirms the nose, a wonderful balance between young flavors of youth with developed leather tobacco notes. There is some of that classic cedar and cigar, along with fresh baked bread, though a bit in the background. Tannins resolved. Overall integrated and a very pleasant drink. Will last for 10 years longer at least, but is at a perfect for me.
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4/18/2021 - J'agnes Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good solid closure. Vibrant ruby not even the merest hint of garnet - very narrow clear rim - amazingly youthful appearance. Nose is all cassis and perhaps wet earth. Palate is mid black fruit - maybe blackcurrant? Nice if a little loose and perhaps slightly cooked. Tannin is fine but quite firm - perhaps as with all 05’s. Nice wine and certainly becoming more mellow as the tannins integrate as time goes by. Overall it’s a keeper and should be good for a few years yet.
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3/15/2021 - ProfByron Likes this wine: 89 Points
I enjoyed this more than previously and got to taste it alongside the 2002. It’s a littymore modern than the 2002 but it doesn’t scream “ripe vintage”. That said the 2002 is vastly better than it’s given credit for.
Rather classic claret.
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2/25/2021 - peetee Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well for me this needed a 2 hour decant. Very St Julian but not very 2005... more like 2004?... lean, mean. Bright and fresh.. tannic in abundance, balanced with he great structure and lovely dark fruits. Earlier bottles have been variably received but this bodes well, for drinking over the next 5 years.
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2/20/2021 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose of red cherry, black cherry, and cigar box, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, at peak and drinking well right now, not likely to improve or merit a higher score wither, mouth filling fruit, almost juicy, great Bordeaux value as usual, and a long finish. Photo uploaded.
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2/20/2021 - Butch1970 Likes this wine: 93 Points
First bottles of two cases. Fully mature, tannins completely integrated (no decant, but opened bottle about 45 minutes before pouring). Lovely focus. Lots of black fruit. This is in a great place.
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1/2/2021 - cugel_saga wrote: 88 Points
Subtle and understated.
Well resolved tannin and acid but missing the delightful tertiary notes that I was hoping for.
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12/31/2020 - gout wrote: 90 Points
Medium deep, attractive cedary bouquet, tannis still firm but ok with food, quite long. Will keep
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12/19/2020 - Tannic Monster wrote: 92 Points
This is in a perfect place. I have coravined other 2005 Bordeaux that are still too young but this one is ready. Plenty of luscious red fruits, cassis, and tertiary components working well together. Not sure I would decant this as it was great out of the gate and may have lost just a little charm after being opened several hours.
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12/14/2020 - chefdilletante wrote:
Still prominent oak on the nose. Classic profile with black currant and cassis. Tannins in check. Overall sleek and pleasing, albeit with limited depth and a short finish.
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12/5/2020 - Hanibal wrote: 91 Points
This Langoa is still in a slumber but beginning to wake up if forced....right bank 05s are a better pick for now but some left bank 05s are starting to open i am looking forward after all this time to see what they have in store
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11/22/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose of red cherry, black cherry, and cigar box, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, subtle, almost elegant, mouth filling fruit, at peak, enjoy now rather than later, medium/long finish. Photo uploaded.
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11/14/2020 - vide Likes this wine: 91 Points
Well, what can I add to the notes and scores (!) below, which range from 85 to 93. How is such divergence possible? I ask myself.
After two hours in the decanter, and a little more in the glass, I find that the wine has the familiar density of Langoa-Barton: an almost impenetrable deep colour. The nose is delicately lifted, earth, cigar, chocolate, very attractive if a little understated. Good mouthfeel at front of palate, and balance throughout, but strangely light in terms of weight (not what I was expecting from this wine in this vintage). Reasonable aftertaste with slightly drying tannin and dark fruit.
Probably at its best around about now. It doesn't have the depth of fruit to develop much further.
A wine that
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11/1/2020 - gout wrote: 90 Points
Medium deep red to edge, no browning, attractive bouquet , cedar, full on the palate, soft tannins, nice long finish , drinking well
A tad pricey even en primeur £42
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10/31/2020 - M.Y. Chong Likes this wine:
Sour red fruits, cassis, smoke, blackcurrant leaves on the nose
Perfectly ripe.
High acidity which really lifts this wine. Decadent fruit. Chocolate. Saliva inducing. Incense/cedar note which I always find from Langoa & Leoville.
Very good value. I have acquired more.
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9/26/2020 - bayareadodgerfan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Red and black cherry - tobacco notes. Beautifully integrated tannins with plenty of fruit and body. Decanted 3 hrs - delicious.
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6/23/2020 - RHaz wrote: 88 Points
Magnum. No decant.
Surprisingly light – almost thin - for 2005. Quite floral on the nose and hugely drinkable with soft red fruits, juiciness, and some classic claret graphite/tobacco/earth to balance it out. Nice and easy-going, but needs drinking up.
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6/9/2020 - ProfByron wrote: 85 Points
Tobacco notes which I like. But wow is this lean. Geranium. Would never have guessed this was 2005!
Breathe, serve warm, and with food. Otherwise it’s luncheon claret.
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5/23/2020 - SGoenophile Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep purple. The big tannins prevalent in 2005 Bordeaux is well tamed here. Soft and round. Light body. A classic St Julien. Has good balance, finesse but doesn’t have quite the power or density that one sees elsewhere in 2005 Bordeaux.
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4/16/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose of red cherry, black cherry, black berry, barnyard, cigar box, and dry earth, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, showing its age so I suggest you drink up now, lovely secondary flavors, and a long finish.
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2/17/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose of red cherry, black cherry, black berry, cigar box, and dry earth, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, at peak, time to enjoy is now, lovely juice, lovely secondary flavors, and a long finish and juicy aftertaste.
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1/20/2020 - swade wrote: 92 Points
The most modern tasting Langoa or Leovile B I have tasted. Very outgoing on the pop on night one. More strict on night two. Dried currants and graphite. Fine, polished tannins. Good length. Clean, dry finish. Very, very good and a pleasant surprise. 92
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1/4/2020 - soyhead wrote:
Lastage wine (last)
N - tomatoe, bell pepper
M - beautifully juicy. A touch funky, however the juice powers thru. Open for business and showing very nicely. I think this is right in its window.
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12/20/2019 - WineKnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
What a difference between this bottle and my last! Based on the last bottle, I thought this wine was good to go and last night I dug into another... Darkest burgundy color and perfectly clear. After 10 hours exposure to air the nose is much more closed than the last visit. Blackberry and sour cherry above tobacco and tar. The flavors are blackberry compote and cherry to match the nose and are followed by cedar, mint, menthol, vanilla and leather against very present tannin and wonderfully youthful freshness. Very long and complex finish as the fruit fades to the background revealing the layers of flavors. This is very good wine indeed, just before it's peak. I will not rush into popping another cork.
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12/14/2019 - ccn wrote: 88 Points
Disappointed relative to expectations, though at least in part it likely reflects the stage of evolution of the wine. Still fairly closed, on the lean side, and not giving a lot away on nose or in mouth.
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11/30/2019 - WineKnut Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nothing speaks to me about this wine more clearly than how a friend reacted when she tasted it. Her eyes slowly shut as she moved backward a step or two and softly said, "This will do..."
Pulled a nearly perfect cork with 1mm of color penetration, except for one tiny 3mm long x 3mm wide tapered plume. 2 hour decant off of light sediment. Deep maroon color showing little sign of aging on the rim. As the wine opened up, the aroma bloomed. Black and red jams filled the glass, as did graphite, earth and sweet vanilla. Light whisps of cigar smoke and evergreen also swirled in the air before me.
My expectation was only heightened by what preceded my first sip. I was not disappointed. This wine is concentrated, ripe and well balanced. Tannins are well resolved and the purity of black currants, plum, stewed cherries I tasted were perfect against a cascade of cocoa, licorice, cedar, tobacco and leather. The finish was alluring and nearly perfect. If only there was a bit more.
If I had a bunch of this wine, I would definitely check in on it now. It has a beautiful short to medium term window opening. Not sure where it goes after a few years, but I admit that I am not too fond of really old wine.
It seems a shame to have to quantify the experience above, but I will... 13 of 15 on nose, perfect on appearance, 18 of 20 on flavor, balance and finish and 9 of 10 on overall experience.
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11/10/2019 - havana4 🍾🍇 wrote: 85 Points
Better on the nose than the palate. I wanted to like this wine. Just a "dead" wine though. Acidity has waned , fruit non descript, and tannins dissolved. The bottle did not seem flawed, but this one somehow has went way past its peak.
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9/23/2019 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Paired with homemade split bean and ham soup. Much improved over 3+ years ago, with an incredible floral nose (cherry blossoms, raspberry compote, milk chocolate, tobacco leaf, mint, and evergreen) combined with a medium frame and scattered red (cherries, raspberries) and blue fruit notes (blueberries, huckleberries, boysenberries) into a savory, rustic, supple, yet dry finish. Drink 2020-2030.
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9/20/2019 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice fruit. Simpler than other 05 BDX in the tasting. Tannins are still strong, similar to other 2005's. Solid wine.
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9/7/2019 - SGoenophile Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dinner at Wah Lok. Double decanted. Deep ruby. Medium body. Tannins well resolved. Good concentration, densely fruited, reflecting the generosity of the vintage. Graceful and elegant, a classic Bordeaux. Overdelivers relative to price point and growth classification.
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7/24/2019 - markjanes wrote: 88 Points
deeply colored, some bricking at rim. aromatically riper than average even for 2005, slightly stewed red and black fruits, integrated barrique spice, some tertiary earthy aromas, hints of brett. on the palate high acids, full midpalate, high amount of firm, but ripe tannins that are starting to integrate, moderate alcohol. balanced wine with good length, excellent intensity and complexity. high degree of ripeness worries me a bit about how well this wine will remain focused as the structural elements integrate. if i had a bunch i'd watch this wine pretty closely over the next 2-3 years...
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7/22/2019 - wineappreciation wrote: 90 Points
Tobacco, blackberry; some depth and a certain intensity, but only medium length finish; good but not exceptional; may improve over time but comparatively short finish suggests limits
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4/20/2019 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 91 Points
Chablis and Champagne Weekend; 4/17/2019-4/21/2019 (Au bon Manger, Ingo's castle, Rocaille, Le Pot d'Etain): Classical Bordeaux mit lushy fruit due to the vintage. Sterting to reach his peak but at least 5-7 years ahead. Black currant vanilla maybe a hin to new world style. 91
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3/12/2019 - BI81 Likes this wine:
Decanted for 2.5 hours. Deep crimson/chocolate with little signs of age. The nose is a mixed bag of floral notes, strawberry, black fruit, tinges of leather, and a bit of sweetness. The attack is powerful with strong gripping tannins that fill your mouth almost immediately followed by a mouthful of blackberry, but surprisingly not as sweet as what the nose leads on. There’s an adequate dose of acidity that provides some freshness and a bit of lightness/elegance to counteract the tannin. Some cedar, leather and faint hints of barnyard starting to show through. Plenty of structure to go for a long time but a delicious bottle of wine drinking very well right now. One of my favorite bottles to date.
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2/19/2019 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Monthly Tuesday group "The Dead Sparrow" #026; Bordeaux 2005 (by DJ): In the bouquet dark berries, graphite, some barnyard and luxurious oak. On the palate dark berries, some sweetness, coffee, blackberries, good acidity, firm and sticky tannin. Beautiful wine showing some early stage of maturity with a touch of soy on the palate.
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11/16/2018 - drjb Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a delicious bottle of wine with all the precision and intensity of 2005 in evidence. The colour is deep crimson with a nose of blackcurrant, dark plums, touches of redcurrant, cedar and liquorice. The palate has beautiful intensity and drive. While it remains quite tight the fruit fills the mouth and balances firm but elegant and fine tannins. This is a classic top year St Julien with plenty of room for evolution. On the other hand its delicious to enjoy its freshness and youth right now.
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10/19/2018 - GNBB wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 90 minutes. Showing little signs of ageing on rim - still deep red colour. Nose showing sweet spice, redcurrants, light lavender - quite primary still but little secondary flavours showing. Palate very firm and intense - big tannins, though softening, with redcurrants again on palate. Still quite tight and closed overall. Young and needs time to develop. Drink 2022-37.
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9/24/2018 - Raizes Likes this wine: 90 Points
成熟的黑莓和黑醋栗，新桶带来的烟草和香草，依旧是非常年轻的甜美香气主导。尽管层次并不算复杂，但饱满圆润，集中度很高，喝来十分愉悦。
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7/1/2018 - Hypersphere Likes this wine: 91 Points
a while to open, but now tanins are getting integrated, nice one
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1/5/2018 - PJRONeill wrote: 92 Points
Extremely impressive on first opening, it shut down pretty comprehensively after an hour in a decanter. The initial impression supports all the good things I have read about this though it needs a huge amount of patience.
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12/31/2017 - Hypersphere wrote: 90 Points
double decanted, waited 90min before re-tasting.
Decent '05 is what i would say. Rather well integrated tannins, not a lot on the palate to keep the taste going. Somehow wished more out of it
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11/13/2017 - Frijole wrote:
dark inky red, medium clarity, rosy hue
Nose: cassis, cranberry, cola, leather, cigar, tobacco, dark chocolate, vanilla, wet earth, green pepper, silver, minerals, oak
Pal: cassis, cranberry, cola, leather, cigar, tobacco, bitter chocolate, vanilla, wet earth, dirt, green pepper, silver, minerals, fine tannins, oak, some complexity
Feel: full, medium, savory, acidic
Finish: long
T9C8
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11/4/2017 - epiphany Likes this wine: 92 Points
Red and black fruits with some spice on the nose. Secondary characteristics just coming through. Medium body with taste in similar profile as the nose. Medium length with some leathery tannins. Wine is generally soft though. This is good for drinking now but will continue to evolve.
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9/8/2017 - Sonoma Duck Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark ruby, gave this a one hour decant but two hours would have been better. Very enjoyable now with decant and this wine is probably still improving. Excellent with a long finish.
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5/13/2017 - jwkunstman Likes this wine: 89 Points
Strongly tannic. Decanted one hour. Cherry prominent. Soft mouthfeel.
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5/8/2017 - Cofxc wrote: 87 Points
Decanted 1 hour plus. Nose is sweet, smudgy, diffuse, slightly biscuity, cherry. Fresh, mineral, high toned, Cranberry, cherry, towards citrusy (unusual and not so pleasant at this time). Milk chocolate. A light coating of tannins. Used Zalto Universal.
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3/8/2017 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #117; Bordeaux St. Julien except Léoville wines.... (By VD and @ VD): Luxurious bouquet with ripe dark forest fruits, vanilla from the oak, cedar and minerals like graphite. On the palate red and dark forest fruits, cassis, some bell pepper, beautiful oak, good acidity and a firm dose of well hidden tannin. This wine is starting to show its beauty now and will probably show even more beauty and complexity a decade from now; so around 2027. 93 - 95 for now.
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1/25/2017 - mattiasjansson wrote: 94 Points
Barton tasting with Damien Barton Sartorius (Gordon's): Vanilla nose. Lush, showy, but well balanced
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1/25/2017 - chcook Likes this wine:
Leoville Barton at Gordon's (Gordons Waltham): color dense garnet. nose has ripe plum w hints of chocolate and spice. swishing this unleashes serious tannin along w cheek coating acidity. sipping tames the structure with the intensity/density of the fruit, but this is still structurally tough because of its youth. given time I expect this will be really good
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1/25/2017 - RockinCabs wrote: 88 Points
Leoville Barton Tasting Seminar - (1986 - 2011) (Gordon's Wines - Waltham, MA): Nose: Very showy sexy candied cherry, sweet oak and chocolate/brownie notes. I would never identify this as Bordeaux, much more Napa on the nose. Palate: Sweet Black Cherry and Plum. Lush fruit with Cola, Oak and Chocolate notes. Finish: Oak heavy, but good red berry and spice notes.
A bit confected wtih more of a napa personality to me.
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1/9/2017 - Dj6544 wrote: 94 Points
Delighted that this is (after half a day in an open bottle) now approachable. There is enormous density here; concentrated, sappy, red berry (typical, I have found, of many '05s), leather, Asian spice and cedar. Light on its feet too, this concentration never feels in the least bit heavy. Although great to drink now, it feels like we are drinking the raw materials which the real wine will emerge from. Looking forward to its life in its twenties, it feels frivolous to drink before then. 94
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11/27/2016 - tb76 wrote: 90 Points
Ready to go with limited decant, medium/deep ruby, medium/full body fresh dark fruit, red berries, hints of vanilla. Holding on to a bit of youthful acidity with softened tannin.
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10/15/2016 - mbond4all Likes this wine: 93 Points
Soft tannins, some oak, cedar, tobacco and quite a dry finish. Very big on the nose. I would definately not decant this wine as it feels delicate though not at the end of its drinking window. I like this wine a lot. The wine could easily be kept for another two years possibly longer, however i doubt it will develop any further.
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8/24/2016 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened and let air 90-min ahead of seared filet, roasted potatoes, and steamed broccoli. Dark crimson color with a purple/burgundy hue. The nose really opened up after 3+ hours, bringing notes of spring violets, candied raspberries, tart blackberries, fresh strawberries, wild herbs, and subtle whiffs of anise, cinnamon, and vanilla bean. The palate is medium, square, tart, and juicy, bringing lush boysenberries, blueberries, blackcurrant, cassis, dried leather, tobacco, and cherry pie into the finish, which seemed a little thin and uneven. Feels like this wine needs to add some weight to the palate and especially the tail. Still, great flavor profile, structure, and balance, a classic claret. Should be best after 2020.
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6/12/2016 - lovanc@outlook.com wrote:
Intoxicating nose of smoky dark fruit. Full bodied but with well integrated tannins and acid for balance.
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3/24/2016 - emzee.mc wrote: 92 Points
Finally found the time to pull this wine out and try out the blockbuster vintage. The wine pours a dark maroon, inky purple color with very thick long legs. With time and aeration, about two hours, the wine starts to unravel and reveals a complex and concentrated nose dominated by primary black fruits and supported by graphite, earth, sous bois, and tobacco. Although the wine is still in its infancy, this is a very classic Bordeaux nose. On the palate, the wine is surprisingly approachable with impressive viscosity and well-developed tannic structure. Flavors of lead pencils, blackberries, mushrooms and earth particularly shine through. The finish is rather long and ends on a smoky note. This is a well-constructed and masculine wine and should hit its peak with a couple more years of cellaring. But for now, the balance, as well as the power, coupled with great QPR (just 50 USD) truly places this left banker on the map as one of the greats in this stellar vintage.
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10/25/2015 - NineteenEightyTwo wrote: 89 Points
La Fête du Bordeaux (Park Hyatt, Chicago): Crimson color with bright ruby rim. Modest nose of cinnamon. Slight palate, long but not broad. Rather lean, with some twiggy berry flavors. Tannins on this one are still unfolding. Nice enough, but falls short of the epic reputation of this vintage. I'd revisit this in 5-10 years.
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10/25/2015 - empire80 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fresh redcurrant and raspberry fruit, classic tannic structure, ready now (with food) but many years ahead.
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9/4/2015 - epiphany Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking really good now though has a future.
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7/14/2015 - JPH104 wrote:
Good feel and body but aromatics restrained. Needs time.
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7/9/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 93 Points
Tasted next to a barrel sample of 2014. Still quite restrained, there is wonderful ripe fruit on the nose, cherries, cassis, dark berries as well as tobacco, spices, earth. Grippy on the palate with powerful tannins, but not austere, there is good fruit underneath. Well balanced, just a bit tight still. Needs a couple of more years. 92-93+(+?)
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6/28/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Approachable with its medium/full bodied, fresh, red berry charm, the wine is fresh, crisp and bright, finishing with ample tannins amidst the buckets of fresh picked cherries in the finish.
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4/9/2015 - Atreyu wrote: 91 Points
Very fresh and red fruited. But slight medicine, and turned plump with air. Lots of ripe tannin, needs more time.
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2/14/2015 - Billigan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Approachable, but showing very young and primary, with a cabernet-heavy nose with only faint traces of Bordeaux character at this point (a little cedar and whiffs of leather). Beautiful balance on the palate, with substantial but soft tannins, ample red fruit, and plenty of freshness from the acidity. Tremendous potential here.
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11/15/2014 - MEKWINE Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark, ripe fruits, graphite and minerals. Smooth, elegant wine with fine tannins, mid-level acidity and open for business now.
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11/15/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 94 Points
Dark and glossy with a hint of evolution towards the rim. Spicy on the nose, showing fine fruit, quite charming, expressive and fine. Really well structured on the palate, pure fruit, ripe and round tannins, fresh, powerful. Wonderful length. Still a little tight but becoming approachable, this is a great Langoa Barton with a long life ahead. 93-94+
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7/10/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 93 Points
Expressive nose, wonderfully concentrated fruit, forest notes, tobacco. Quite delicious with great balance, slightly mineral and very good length. Although also not quite ready yet, it is more accessible than Leoville Barton, but less complex. Very good. 92-93+
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3/14/2014 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 92 Points
2 hr decant- medium bodied, average balance, average finish, no where near prime but drinking nicely right now. Should hit prime in 5+ years. Average value.
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12/26/2013 - pupaes Likes this wine: 92 Points
aired a short time. not much nose. but medium to long finish. some solids when decanting. others are suggesting the ideal drinking window is years away, but this seems ready now. not a heavyweight. but solid bordeaux stored at perfect temperature for 7 years. a good QPR at $90.00. would buy again.
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9/1/2013 - jmccready Likes this wine: 94 Points
Perfect mix of red shades by desk-light after a power failure.
A range of red fruits on nose from cherries, currants, etc.
but all red. Palate of supple fruit and "strict"supporting tannins
yet a bit trim for a ripe vintage. Maintains a traditional claret
lover's
style while satisfying the modern clean fad. Classic and
elegant and one day I might meet Anthony Barton. $80/bottle!
Buy it, age it and open a few now if you must, and rock! JM
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7/8/2013 - tendring wrote: 93 Points
Wine Education Service - Château Langoa Barton (LSE): Intensely dark, very little age.
Perfume with ripe fruit.
Fruity, very tannic, still much too young, very long.
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3/17/2013 - Dj6544 wrote:
Beautifully perfumed nose of flowers and herbs, with spotlessly clean cool stone and black fruit. This took at least five hours to shed the mouth coating tannins and reveal a more approachable side. However this is still completely dominated by structure and while you can imagine what wonders the rich blackcurrant fruit will yield in the future, this is a decade away from the wine it ought to be. Not rated.
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2/4/2013 - RaggaMat Likes this wine: 93 Points
First bottle of a case and a half. I love Langoa so naturally have high expectations for the 2005, and this certainly did not diasappoint. 11 hour decant definitely helped soften it up. Nose was full of both black and red fruit, and it was very smooth to drink with that customary medium bodied style. Still pretty tannic. Very long finish.
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1/14/2013 - bmarshall wrote: 94 Points
First bottle of the case opened and the Langoa did not disappoint. Classic, refined Bordeaux nose was full of black cherry, currants, graphite pencil shavings, leather and some floral notes. Medium to full bodied on the palate. Tannins were firm, slightly grainy but well integrated. Finish lingered 45+ seconds. Only thing holding my score back was that it was not a little "bigger", but a super wine for sure and I look forward to enjoying the remaining bottles for many years ahead. Paired wonderfully with Beef Bourguignon.
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1/2/2013 - il_diavolo wrote: 91 Points
Dark purple colour. Nose of sour cherries and vanilla. Cherries and currant dark fruit with hint of vanilla. Nice on first day though not overwhelming in terms of depth and length. It took the second day to get some pencil lead and minerality to develop and it was less primary. Good but can only be evaluated properly in 5+ years. For now a holding 91pts.
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11/17/2012 - europat55 wrote: 90 Points
K&L Grand Bordeaux Tasting (Redwood City, California): Moderate nose. The palate is a little bit watery, but that seems in line with the style of this wine. Needs time.
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4/26/2012 - RayOB wrote: 93 Points
Goedhius Bordeaux Cru Classe Tasting (Saatchi Gallery): Nose of dark cherries, tobacco, plumbs and vanilla. Smooth complex mouth with a medium length. Still young with a lot of tannins noticeable and will last for many more years. Come back in 5 years.
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3/12/2012 - richard thorne wrote: 95 Points
Vertical tasting of 94, 98 through to 05. Dark purple. Even at 4 hours in the decanter the nose was limited, but then suddenly opened up and dark cherry, mineral and violet aromas mixed with the vanilla. The palate is still of predominantly red fruit flavours, with high acidity and the tannins are tough, but the whole is certainly balanced and there are background complex aromatics. (Some tasters voted this their current favourite.) Excellent length, but dominated by the tannins. Will be fantastic in time.
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9/4/2011 - Phredd wrote: 91 Points
25th Anniversary (a few days early) (Charleston Grill, Charleston, SC): Poured at the Charleston Grill, Charleston, SC., notes from memory a few days later. After the disaster of a flawed Pichon Lalande, I was faced with making a choice from the extensive list at the Charleston Grill, while the meal waited in the wings. The Maitre d' proposed the '86 Pichon Baron, and while I would very much have liked to go with that, the $325 price tag was too much for me, especially since I was already down a bottle. I went with the 2005 Langoa Barton, instead. Right there with the customer service, Micky suggested a splash decant, which was a must. Even so, the purple color suggested a wine that was too young, and that proved to be correct. The wine was too big, and although it had powerful fruit, it wasn't quite enough to overcome the wall of tannin. After about an hour, the wine started to relax and sing a bit, but of course by that time the entrees were done. It's a very good wine, though, with big cassis, a shot of Rhone-like licorice, great acidity, and a very intense mineral core. It needs another five years, though, and then will no doubt drink well for 20. I gave the wine a 91 score now, but I believe it has the potential to add significantly to that as the tannic wall begins to break down and the fruit mellows with secondary depth. This was a very good bottle, it just wasn't quite ready for prime time. Micky called it "a nice little wine". If only I could afford such wine every day....
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7/14/2011 - tendring Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wine Education Service - Château Langoa Barton Troisième Cru Classé: Delicately fruity nose, sour cherries and plums.
All the elements are here for a superb wine, this needs keeping at least seven years.
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7/14/2011 - moods wrote: 93 Points
Wine Education Service Chateau Langoa Barton Vertical (Imperial College, London): Easily the wine of the night in the LB vertical. Lives up to the vintage hype. This wine is a supernatural thriller. Dark, brooding, intense and forbidding colour. Initially quite restrained on the nose. Early aromas are those of stones and minerals; chilling, almost sinister. Then comes the temptation. With time the sour cherries, plums and cassis notes begin to rise from the inky black depths of the tasting glass; all the earlier warning signs are forgotten and you just have to take a sip. First comes the wonderful pleasure of the intense ripe blackcurrant fruit. Then the palate comes alive with the fresh acidity. But it's too late, you're now in the wine's clutches, any attempt at escape is futile. The tannin bites. Your mouth dries and puckers. You've committed infanticide. But you know you can't wait to come back for more. A great wine.
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3/30/2011 - mmh wrote:
Nice perfumy cassis nose. Still tannic and tight on the palate. Keep.
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11/5/2010 - blockboy wrote: 94 Points
great nose well balanced, floral
palate was smooth, even without decanting, nice mouthfeel, and long finish. I was worried that is would be too soon to open, but it was worth it. earth, leather, blue and blackberries. widh I bought more
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7/25/2010 - Jhcwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose - Lovely nose; rasberry, blueberry. Palette - somewhat round. Rasberry, blueberry. Some tanin, some bitterness. Nice, but not as nice as the Leoville Barton 2004 I had afew days before this. I'd put this at a 91 or 92 and the Leoville Barton at a 93 or 94.
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3/6/2010 - Badfish wrote: 92 Points
Bordeaux Update (Wine Exchange - Orange, CA): Very pretty and pure on the nose with aromas of red berries, currant, and flowers. The palate offers gorgeous red fruit flavors of currant, plum, and stones. The ripeness is ideal here with no edges at all to the fruit. The tannins are firm yet approachable, which bodes well for the future of this wine. This is likely somewhat closed so I can only imagine it will get even better. 92+
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9/1/2009 - Double-A Likes this wine: 93 Points
Currant, chocolate, coconut, and woodspice nose. Medium-full bodied with good replays; long, structured finish.
4.5/5
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4/21/2009 - Rupert wrote: 92 Points
Langoa-Barton Vertical 1904-2005 (Institute of Directors, London): Forthcoming spicy blackcurrant nose, concentrated, thick, smooth - delicious even now
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10/4/2008 - Omar Khayyam wrote: 92 Points
medium body and translucent dark red colour - the nose is wonderful with cedar shavings and some blackcurrant and dark plum fruit. So ready to drink right now. There is a hint of vanilla but the structure of this wine is balanced and not too heavy.
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10/1/2008 - Remony wrote: 90 Points
2005 Red Bordeaux Vintage Farr Vintners Masterclass (Vintners Hall, City of London): Firm colour; touches of caramel and flowers on nose. Slightly oaky, unbalanced, seems even younger than others in this flight. Tannins not to the fore. Good but not special tonight.
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5/26/2008 - Paul S wrote: 91 Points
Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux 2005 vintage tasting and dinner (Conrad Interntational, Singapore): UGC tasting. Nice wine, but very straightforward and just a touch rustic. Clean flavours, with bramble, some fruit, frim tannins and a slightly green, minty finish.
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3/9/2008 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine:
Very velvety, depth on nose and palate. An underlying almost brooding feel, but just about the best Langoa I have had ever. Confirmed tasting in New York. A real success for this estate. Bravo!
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3/7/2008 - mbk07 wrote: 93 Points
Strong, complex but just round, long finish, will become great
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1/20/2008 - Jeff Leve wrote: 85 Points
The austere personality and slightly drying, tannic finish did not make it a winner for me.
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1/19/2008 - hcampana wrote: 91 Points
2005 Bordeaux @ Union des Grand Crus (San Francisco, CA): Intense nose of black fruit and oak. No green flavors anywhere. What were others tasting? A bit of rusticity in the tannin, but overall an excellent wine.
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1/19/2008 - tanglenet wrote:
Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (San Francisco): Tasted at the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux in SF. Quick notes: super dry with reticent cherry fruit and touches of wood. Unrated.
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4/5/2006 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 92 Points
BORDEAUX 2005 / Cabernet rules; 4/5/2006-4/10/2006 (Bordeaux): Nuanced, lovely cassis nose precedes a delicate palate, yet possessing underlying depth and power, plus fruit flavors and minerality. Very nice – and more immediately pleasurable than the Leoville Barton – but not as complex! Tasted again at the chateau, with comparable notes. 91-93
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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, currant and espresso. Great stuff, but very brooding. Hold at least a decade, probably to 2020+. Good+ 88-90 point potential.
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