Perfect spot between primary and tertiary aromas. Black/red color, very dense. Black fruits on the nose, very fresh, pepper, star anis. On the palate there is also a fresh, dark expression with tension and grippy, but very fine tannins. A "structure" wine which seems to be in a phase of loosing its fruit, but not in a bad way. Perfect structure, very balanced and fresh. Could effortless last for another 10+ years but is easy to drink now. Very good...
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Robe rouge intense à peine marquée par l’âge. Le nez est fin sur la mûre, une touche de cacao et de cèdre, légèrement vanillé. En bouche on trouve un Pessac dans une version assez intense, musclée, poivrée et fruitée, mais toujours en finesse. Assez chaleureux quand même. La finale est assez linéaire et longue dans un style épuré et salivant.
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13% alcohol. CS 65%, M 32%, PV 3%. Very good cork with no wine penetration. Decanted a short hour ahead. The colour is dark and impenetrable with very limited thinning at the edge of the rim. The nose is very appealing with fresh fruit (mostly blackcurrant) mingling with inky flavours, all in a sightly subdued mode. In the mouth, the feel is of an even less evolved wine with lots of energy, good fruit and good grip; the tannins are beginning to resolve, and the overall feel is smooth and classy. This is already very enjoyable, but my feeling is that the best is yet to come. Compared with the SHL 02 that I had yesterday, the contrast could not be higher. The LM shows much fewer traces of oak and much less evolution (taking into account the 3 year age gap). In a line up, the contrast would be nearly unbearable, and one or the other would come across as the clear winner, but in fact I like them both and isn't it great that we can enjoy the variety of styles still available from Bordeaux? High potential here. PS: finishing the bottle the next day, the oak comes across more prominently without actually compromising the overall balance. Not the first time that I find the perception of oak to depend on the circumstances.
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Nice, but I would have expected more of a 2005. Still course tannins I do not believe will soften much in the future (90). SEcond day after using vacuum pump and 2 hour decanting; slightly better, which is promising for extended cellaring.
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Riktigt bra nu och kul att se utvecklingen från den primör som detta inhandlades som för 16 år sedan. Denna flaska inmundigades vid vår 11e bröllopsdag till en zabuton med smör på vitlök och soltorkade tomater.
Vinet kommer att hålla ytterligare några år men balansen finns där på ett mycket bra sätt nu och dricker resterande flaskor inom 2 år.
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Pristine cork. Lots of chunky sediment in the bottle but no smoke. Pure black cherry heart with a ruby rim. Initially the nose is quite subdued and requires coaxing to reveal black currant, blue plum, blackberries, slate, graphite, lots of char and even some iodine. Very nicely mature, layered and dark on the nose. Tart and crunchy black and purple berries, chalky tannins, graphite, oak, iron and even a touch of licorice on the palate. Piercingly dry to start. Medium-full bodied. Well balanced from front to back overall. Fills out over time. Becomes fleshier and feels less dry. Finishes with those same tangy black fruits and with mouth watering acidity. Classic old school Bordeaux! Built to last and to pair with red meat. Not a sipper, thats for certain! Was perfect with BBQ rack of lamb! Started out as a bit austere 90 but ended up very pleasant 92.
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13% alcohol. The cork breaks up at the extraction stage, but this is probably due to the short screw (my mistake for choosing this particular tool). Fairly dark hue all the way to the rim. The nose is superb with dark fruit, some leather and a very subtle raisiny component. Equally good in the mouth with a perfect balance between grip, fruit, liveliness and poise. No direct oak in evidence, and the tannins are there only as a pleasant memory. So much better than the Brane-Cantenac 2002 that I had yesterday ! Fine to drink now but with potential to improve over the next five years, and then last another ten. Over the years, I have tended to see this property as playing second fiddle to Malartic-L, but frankly this wine is worthy of top billing.
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Classic left-bank style Bordeaux and great value; mix of red and black fruits, leather, iodine, meaty, soft tannins. In a good drinking window now. @finewine.explorer
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We drank this one over 2 days. Best on day 2, so in need of a decant, and wonderfull with food (omelet in our case). Standalone less good, still a bit tight and tannic.
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13% alcohol. CS 65%, M 32% PV 3%. Pretty good longish cork with no wine penetration. Decanted an hour ahead. The colour is deep with very little sign of ageing. The nose shows dark fruit, a fair dose of harmonious oak and definite (if fleeting) smoky aromas; vg complexity here. The mouth is vigorous, due in no small part to healthy balancing acidity; good grip too, although the tannins are resolved. There is a good mixture of fruit and tertiary flavours, including tobacco and that smokiness again; if I have a criticism it is that the alcohol protrudes slightly at times (that's Merlot for you...). Still a very satisfying Pessac, with a good deal of class, and perfect with lamb (no surprise there). This wine used to be pretty cheap, being regarded by most (myself included) as the underdog to Malartic-Lagravière, but prices have begun to increase significantly, probably justifiably. Plenty of life ahead.
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13% alcohol. CS 65%, M 32%, PV 3%. Very good cork, just above average in length. Decanted an hour ahead. Deep colour without noticeable fading at the edge of the rim. The nose is rich with ripe (not over-ripe) dark berries. The mouth is deeply satisfying with excellent depth and plenty of zip; certainly there is oak here, and it lends a measure of opulence to the experience, but is well judged and does not intrude directly. Whatever tannins are left are of the soft variety, and they lend grip to the wine. As good a Bordeaux as one can drink without spending silly money; just glorious and way above its status.
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Opened and tasted. Quite flat. Decanted for 1 hour.
Eye: deep purple. Nose: berries, smoke, slight vanilla. Palate: tannins still evident, more open than sip after opening, fruitbbsry subtle, elegant and medium to long finish. Holding up well. Out under vacuum overnight and tried again the next day and opened up slightly further with more notes of cassis.
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13.5% alcohol. CS 65%, M 32%, PV 3%.Very good cork, slightly above average in length and pretty dense; minimal wine penetration. I have always liked the general look of the label, but on closer inspection, is that an anaemic lion holding a sword in its teeth ? Pretty quaint. Deep colour with no sign of ageing.
Lively nose with dark berries, dark cherries, tobacco and just a hint of vanilla. The mouth is equally good with plenty of energy and freshness; some unresolved tannins in the aftertaste do not compromise the experience. Harmonious in a light non-opulent style. A superb Bordeaux of the lively variety with a long life ahead. When I bought this wine the red was much cheaper than the white, and I think that the price differential is still there. A repeat purchase in principle, but my days of buying Bordeaux are drawing to a close.
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13% alcohol. CS 65%, M 32%, PV 3%. Very good cork, not that long but dense and showing no wine penetration at all. Decanted an hour ahead. Dark colour with some thinning and a suggestion of browning at the very edge of the rim. The nose is rich and satisfying, marrying ripe dark berries with the harmonious remnants of élevage, including some very restrained vanilla. The mouth is nearly as good, maybe slightly stricter and marginally less full than what the nose would lead you to expect. Very good no matter what, in a style that reminds me of Léoville-Barton. Very good grip and plenty of fruit, but no opulence here. Superbly juicy and excellent value; a suggestion of mint in the finish adds to the sensation of freshness. Will improve further with another five years in bottle, I feel, and then last another fifteen years. Left bank Bordeaux is such a joy when it is on song.
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Académie des Cinquante 64th Annual Dinner (Sofitel The Grand, Amsterdam, NL): Mature but lively appearance. Lovely ripe fruit on the nose and gravelly terroir expression, nice freshness and medium body on the palate, traditional style, sticky tannins and unfortunately a hint of greenness, light and drying finish.
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During a Pessac-Leognan themed dinner. The cheapest wine in the line up but it held its own. Expressive nose of dark fruit, forest floor, pine. Medium bodied, structured without being rustic. The dinner confirmed the aromatic power of the Pessac Leognan appellation, lots of characterful wines here. Decanting advised for this wine.
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13% alcohol. Good dense cork of average length, with virtually no wine penetration. Lovely smell off the cork. Decanted an hour ahead. The colour is dark, with barely a sign of thinning at the edge of the rim. Very good fruity nose of ripe blackcurrant; no oak in evidence. The mouth has plenty of energy, with a pleasant juicy character. Some residual tannins in the finish. This bottle is a bit too young to display complete harmony, but it will get there in a few years. Very pleasant now for those who can cope with some bite in their Bordeaux.
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Somewhat restrained on the nose and framed by noticeable tannin, this bottle indicates that the wine needs more time to fully blossom. Another bottle a few years ago was more approachable, so I was a bit surprised. What was there was fine, but had expected more punch. Nice tones of warm bricks, cedar wood and graphite, as well as some black currants. Round and supple. Should get better.
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Good but very slightly disappointing. Red berries and earthy Pessac notes at first, not very tannic, a promising middle section but then a sense of angular hollowness and an odd finish, with citrus fruits (!). So slightly weird.
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Medium ruby, perfumed nose with black currant, black plum, pine nettles, graphite and black tea with mocha undertones, lean and still tight on the palate with teethy tannins, dark fruit and ripe acidity, lean but long finish with loads of layered red and black fruit with wood and earth ascents
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Very pleasing, quite an intense Graves cabernet oriented Bordeaux, as expected for 2005, but some unexpected aged complexity - are the 2005 classed growths finally opening up ?
Worth buying, and enjoying over the next decade.
{13%, cork}.
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Lovely black and blue fruit, so much freshness on account of the acidity of the vintage, and classy dryness on the finish. Am looking forward to the '15 and '16.
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Good Graves. Drank off and on two nights which led to a disjointed experience. It's at its best 2/3 hours into a decant. I'll capture more detail when I have another. Not a bad place to start drinking 05s.
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Similar to previous notes, this is delicious but also thought-provoking and sophistocated. I love the primary blackberry tone, but there are plenty of secondary notes - a sweetness, dryness, a little prune and marzipan. I look forward to the '15 and '16.
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Opened 1 hour prior. Lovely nose of cassis and sandalwood. Palate follows bouquet with good complexity, fine tannins laced with deft use of oak and some spice notes. Moderately long final.
Drinking very well now but still progressing towards even greater integration and complexity.
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I had the luxury of comparing this to the '10 vintage. This is as expected a bit softer and more resolved vs. the '10. Though still powerful, it feels lighter than the '10. I love the style of this Chateau - big, black fruit, some licorice and espresso. I think the '10 is just a litter deeper and more defined.
Held up perfectly on the 2nd day after vacuum seal and refrigeration - virtually no change.
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Inky crimson, very concentrated. Mid-plus weight. Very fresh nose of wet stones, iron filings, and blackberry gastrique. Austere palate, though very smooth. Not yielding a ton of flavor, yet; but flashes of rich fruit. I'd say these are still early days for this wine's development.
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Opened 1 hour prior. Dark garnet with some faint bricking and suspended sediment. Lively bouquet showing tobacco, menthol, oak and forest. Brisk attack opening into a lively mid-palate with oak notes perhaps a shade too prominent but still very engaging. Light on its feet and builds into a fine final with bright cherry fruit playing off against oak and fine tannic backdrop over a medium final.
This was very nice - lovely balance. Seems very open for business but I expect it will continue to improve.
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Darker pessac, long body with some muted darker forrest fruits. Leather, spices, and plum. Missing some complexity. Would it develop further? Im not sure. 90-91p
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Delightfully expressive and precise on the nose, with notes of brick, earth, leather on a base of red fruit. Round and elegant in the mouth, cool fruit and good length. A 2005 that is showing well now, and very good value.
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Pessac-Leognan tasting: Another Pessac-Leognan from the great 2005. Latour-Martillac shows dark fruit, with a spicy touch and hints of tobacco, leather and brick wood on the nose. Good concentrated palate, but this has a really soft texture. I almost got that Pomerol feeling, which is very pleasing for a Merlot fan (although this one only has a share of 32 % Merlot). Long soft finish with red fruit and toasted oak.
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Monthly tasting club "The Tasting Club" 2016-02; Bordeaux 2005 (@ DJ): Beautiful bouquet with red and dark forest fruits, vanilla and licorice. On the palate concentrated and ripe dark forest fruits, some red berries as well, sweet spices, chocolate, licorice and vanilla. A bit dusty. Firm acidity and fairly soft tannin with still a good bite. Good length. Beautiful wine.
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Splash decant. Opened nicely over the following hour or two. Lifted bouquet showing cassis and some spice wood notes. Silky red fruit mid-palate, tannins nicely integrated, an interesting backdrop of cedar hints and minerality. Good length.
This is drinking very well now and I expect is just starting a long plateau. Paired very well tonight with roast chicken but this is also sufficiently light (in a relative way and in the good sense of the term) that this could also be enjoyed on its own.
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Earthy, mushroom nose with underlaying black fruits, smooth tannins, refined, firm and meaty backbone, balanced with great acidity, long complex finish. It is very good drinking now. A few more years will get better.
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Smooth with silky fine tannin. Elegant frame that finishes with focus. Earthy out of bottle turning to leather, cassis and flowers. Tart red berry finish. 2-3 years more will do.
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Consumed with family on the eve of my son's Christening. Decanted 1 hour before consumption. Supple, with kirsch and black fruit; good tannic solidity - I'm guessing this was quite an imposing wall when younger - which dried slightly on the end of a long finish. Medium-bodied, refined and alluring. Most enjoyable. My sister was a bit slower in drinking her glass so when I tried it a little later (she let me!) - perhaps 2 hours after dinner - the fruit was still there. I have no idea whether the "to 2020" window is right here, but if I had more bottles I'd probably drink them in the next year or two.
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very concentrated, seems almost like an "en primeur" tasting, in a way you think that this is way too young, but I'm not convinced that this wine has a bright future ahead of it
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Tasted this at the Quartet of Bordeaux Masterclass at The Tower Club.
Wine is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. Colour is purplish brown, with a distinctive chocolate nose, followed by hints of mocha and tobacco.
On the palate the wine is still tannic with a good structure but the middle of the body is missing. The spice in the wine was evident, as was the acidity.
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Tuesday Night Double Blind <$40 (Bin 75): Darker core with bricking rim; compost, warm earth, tobacco, currant, stank, meat, Christmas spice, classic Bordeaux; some coffee on the palate, grainy tannin, youthful yet open and drinking well, good structure, green pepper, generous yet hard at the same time.
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Decanted 1 hour. Dark garnet. Blueberry and spice nose with some tobacco leaf notes. Juicy dark fruit profile with soft tannins, good balance and a long final. Interesting minerality adds some complexity. I enjoyed this very much which bodes well for my future bottles.
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The character of this wine is still showing through, but this is definitely ripe,full-bodied, and loose-knit for La Tour-Martillac. Not my favorite vintage.
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Expressive nose of black currant, earth and minerals. Nice and cool palate, sweet fruit, good length, and framed by fine tannns. Will get even better, but is very enjoyable already.
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It was very light bodied after decanting for about an hour. Almost gave up on it but it was really nice after another hour or so on the table. Give it time and it rewards but it's not a blockbuster 2005. Decent qpr at $30-40. Might be peaking now.
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Nice full red and dark fruit, leather, some tobacco. Very nicely integrated yet still bright on the palate. Surprisingly evolved for a 2005. Nice smooth medium finish.
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Thought this was a great wine, after drinking many New World rhone bottles over the last few days, this was a welcome relief in savory vs fruit. Totally enjoyable - briar, herbs for rosemary and thyme. slightly bitter.
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None of the reticence for which so many 2005s are currently known, this one was open for business. Great expressive and fragrant nose - very seductive floral and touch of Graves moss. The palate was a disappointment - initial impressions were it lacked fruit and was a bit thin. Surprisingly though, it didn't fall apart on the second night (overnight was in the fridge) and is drinking nicely. Perhaps a disappointment overall given the vintage, but attractive and expressive Bdx at this price point.
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- Garnet color with medium forming legs. It's lacking fruit with a medium body - Relativ viel Tannine, wenig Frucht und etwas unbalanciert. Brauchte noch ?
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Eye: deep purple, violet color. Nose: blackberries, cassis, vanilla, smoke. Palate: strong tannins, a bit acidic, fruit somewhat muted, long finish but lacks the harmony I recalled last tasting.
After 1 hour the wine softened and the fruit emerged as dark cherries and cassis.
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Good freshness on the nose with nice spiciness, herbs, licorice and currant bush (foliage and berries together). Taste is very tight, delicious but lacks some length on the finish. (oddly enough, the 2005 felt tighter and more restrained than the barrel sample of the 2010)
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licorice, blackcurrent, tobacco, roses, maybe even some bacon ! good structure, good length, fruit, some pencil lead. It's quite good. Can be kept for a while still.
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Initialy leather and some fruit one the nose. After a while in the decanter the leather is gone, and there is dark fruit and some flowers on the nose. Dark, warm fruit, vanilla, and a lot of tannins in the mouth. Contrary to other CT-notes, I find that this wine has a decent finish. Not often that I rate a wine above average on CT, but this is a decent - but not elegant - Bordeaux.
This wine craves for red meat.
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Very promising, but definitelly not ready yet. Lot's of fruit on attack, nice balance, a bit on acidic side, long finish. Hope it will be outstanding in 5 years.
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Nez boisé, avec des nuances de poivron. Tanins polis et plus discrets, mais j'ai un doute à savoir si ce n'est pas dû à une utilisation excessive de bois.
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3/3/2024 - TS wrote: 89 Points
A bit diappointing. Not developing as positively as i hoped.
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5/3/2023 - Chrysostomus Likes this wine: 93 Points
Perfect spot between primary and tertiary aromas. Black/red color, very dense. Black fruits on the nose, very fresh, pepper, star anis. On the palate there is also a fresh, dark expression with tension and grippy, but very fine tannins. A "structure" wine which seems to be in a phase of loosing its fruit, but not in a bad way. Perfect structure, very balanced and fresh. Could effortless last for another 10+ years but is easy to drink now. Very good...
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4/24/2023 - RolandFranz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Robe rouge intense à peine marquée par l’âge. Le nez est fin sur la mûre, une touche de cacao et de cèdre, légèrement vanillé. En bouche on trouve un Pessac dans une version assez intense, musclée, poivrée et fruitée, mais toujours en finesse. Assez chaleureux quand même. La finale est assez linéaire et longue dans un style épuré et salivant.
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11/28/2022 - Eudemis Likes this wine:
13% alcohol. CS 65%, M 32%, PV 3%. Very good cork with no wine penetration. Decanted a short hour ahead. The colour is dark and impenetrable with very limited thinning at the edge of the rim.
The nose is very appealing with fresh fruit (mostly blackcurrant) mingling with inky flavours, all in a sightly subdued mode. In the mouth, the feel is of an even less evolved wine with lots of energy, good fruit and good grip; the tannins are beginning to resolve, and the overall feel is smooth and classy.
This is already very enjoyable, but my feeling is that the best is yet to come.
Compared with the SHL 02 that I had yesterday, the contrast could not be higher. The LM shows much fewer traces of oak and much less evolution (taking into account the 3 year age gap). In a line up, the contrast would be nearly unbearable, and one or the other would come across as the clear winner, but in fact I like them both and isn't it great that we can enjoy the variety of styles still available from Bordeaux?
High potential here.
PS: finishing the bottle the next day, the oak comes across more prominently without actually compromising the overall balance. Not the first time that I find the perception of oak to depend on the circumstances.
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9/23/2022 - TS Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice, but I would have expected more of a 2005. Still course tannins I do not believe will soften much in the future (90).
SEcond day after using vacuum pump and 2 hour decanting; slightly better, which is promising for extended cellaring.
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7/17/2022 - eljocco Likes this wine: 94 Points
Riktigt bra nu och kul att se utvecklingen från den primör som detta inhandlades som för 16 år sedan. Denna flaska inmundigades vid vår 11e bröllopsdag till en zabuton med smör på vitlök och soltorkade tomater.
Vinet kommer att hålla ytterligare några år men balansen finns där på ett mycket bra sätt nu och dricker resterande flaskor inom 2 år.
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4/10/2022 - kfrench150 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pristine cork. Lots of chunky sediment in the bottle but no smoke. Pure black cherry heart with a ruby rim. Initially the nose is quite subdued and requires coaxing to reveal black currant, blue plum, blackberries, slate, graphite, lots of char and even some iodine. Very nicely mature, layered and dark on the nose. Tart and crunchy black and purple berries, chalky tannins, graphite, oak, iron and even a touch of licorice on the palate. Piercingly dry to start. Medium-full bodied. Well balanced from front to back overall. Fills out over time. Becomes fleshier and feels less dry. Finishes with those same tangy black fruits and with mouth watering acidity. Classic old school Bordeaux! Built to last and to pair with red meat. Not a sipper, thats for certain! Was perfect with BBQ rack of lamb! Started out as a bit austere 90 but ended up very pleasant 92.
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11/22/2021 - Eudemis Likes this wine:
13% alcohol. The cork breaks up at the extraction stage, but this is probably due to the short screw (my mistake for choosing this particular tool). Fairly dark hue all the way to the rim.
The nose is superb with dark fruit, some leather and a very subtle raisiny component. Equally good in the mouth with a perfect balance between grip, fruit, liveliness and poise. No direct oak in evidence, and the tannins are there only as a pleasant memory.
So much better than the Brane-Cantenac 2002 that I had yesterday !
Fine to drink now but with potential to improve over the next five years, and then last another ten.
Over the years, I have tended to see this property as playing second fiddle to Malartic-L, but frankly this wine is worthy of top billing.
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10/31/2021 - TS Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank over to days. Just ok first day. Second day much better. Keep.
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10/19/2021 - tailorvino Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic left-bank style Bordeaux and great value; mix of red and black fruits, leather, iodine, meaty, soft tannins. In a good drinking window now. @finewine.explorer
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8/21/2021 - vinero Likes this wine: 92 Points
We drank this one over 2 days. Best on day 2, so in need of a decant, and wonderfull with food (omelet in our case). Standalone less good, still a bit tight and tannic.
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7/17/2021 - bjurry Likes this wine: 81 Points
Dark fruits, sun burned, prunes, tannins melted. Not very complex. Drink now.
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2/7/2021 - Eudemis Likes this wine:
13% alcohol. CS 65%, M 32% PV 3%. Pretty good longish cork with no wine penetration. Decanted an hour ahead. The colour is deep with very little sign of ageing.
The nose shows dark fruit, a fair dose of harmonious oak and definite (if fleeting) smoky aromas; vg complexity here. The mouth is vigorous, due in no small part to healthy balancing acidity; good grip too, although the tannins are resolved. There is a good mixture of fruit and tertiary flavours, including tobacco and that smokiness again; if I have a criticism it is that the alcohol protrudes slightly at times (that's Merlot for you...).
Still a very satisfying Pessac, with a good deal of class, and perfect with lamb (no surprise there).
This wine used to be pretty cheap, being regarded by most (myself included) as the underdog to Malartic-Lagravière, but prices have begun to increase significantly, probably justifiably.
Plenty of life ahead.
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10/11/2020 - Eudemis Likes this wine:
13% alcohol. CS 65%, M 32%, PV 3%. Very good cork, just above average in length. Decanted an hour ahead. Deep colour without noticeable fading at the edge of the rim.
The nose is rich with ripe (not over-ripe) dark berries. The mouth is deeply satisfying with excellent depth and plenty of zip; certainly there is oak here, and it lends a measure of opulence to the experience, but is well judged and does not intrude directly. Whatever tannins are left are of the soft variety, and they lend grip to the wine.
As good a Bordeaux as one can drink without spending silly money; just glorious and way above its status.
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9/18/2020 - David Meddings wrote: 89 Points
Dark garnet. Plum bouquet with spice. Medium bodied, good complexity, fully resolved tannins and medium final.
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4/25/2020 - socidelvino Likes this wine: 87 Points
Opened and tasted. Quite flat. Decanted for 1 hour.
Eye: deep purple. Nose: berries, smoke, slight vanilla. Palate: tannins still evident, more open than sip after opening, fruitbbsry subtle, elegant and medium to long finish. Holding up well. Out under vacuum overnight and tried again the next day and opened up slightly further with more notes of cassis.
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4/11/2020 - Re-nez wrote: 94 Points
Étonnant car astringence assez soutenue!
Belle couleur orangée et très belle longueur !
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3/23/2020 - Eudemis Likes this wine:
13.5% alcohol. CS 65%, M 32%, PV 3%.Very good cork, slightly above average in length and pretty dense; minimal wine penetration. I have always liked the general look of the label, but on closer inspection, is that an anaemic lion holding a sword in its teeth ? Pretty quaint.
Deep colour with no sign of ageing.
Lively nose with dark berries, dark cherries, tobacco and just a hint of vanilla. The mouth is equally good with plenty of energy and freshness; some unresolved tannins in the aftertaste do not compromise the experience. Harmonious in a light non-opulent style.
A superb Bordeaux of the lively variety with a long life ahead. When I bought this wine the red was much cheaper than the white, and I think that the price differential is still there.
A repeat purchase in principle, but my days of buying Bordeaux are drawing to a close.
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1/17/2020 - Mad Dog Mikey Likes this wine: 91 Points
Perhaps the 2005's are coming around? A clear improvement from two previous encounters with the Latour-Martillac 2005.
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12/9/2019 - Eudemis Likes this wine:
13% alcohol. CS 65%, M 32%, PV 3%. Very good cork, not that long but dense and showing no wine penetration at all. Decanted an hour ahead. Dark colour with some thinning and a suggestion of browning at the very edge of the rim.
The nose is rich and satisfying, marrying ripe dark berries with the harmonious remnants of élevage, including some very restrained vanilla. The mouth is nearly as good, maybe slightly stricter and marginally less full than what the nose would lead you to expect. Very good no matter what, in a style that reminds me of Léoville-Barton. Very good grip and plenty of fruit, but no opulence here. Superbly juicy and excellent value; a suggestion of mint in the finish adds to the sensation of freshness.
Will improve further with another five years in bottle, I feel, and then last another fifteen years.
Left bank Bordeaux is such a joy when it is on song.
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10/26/2019 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 89 Points
Académie des Cinquante 64th Annual Dinner (Sofitel The Grand, Amsterdam, NL): Mature but lively appearance. Lovely ripe fruit on the nose and gravelly terroir expression, nice freshness and medium body on the palate, traditional style, sticky tannins and unfortunately a hint of greenness, light and drying finish.
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6/4/2019 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
During a Pessac-Leognan themed dinner. The cheapest wine in the line up but it held its own. Expressive nose of dark fruit, forest floor, pine. Medium bodied, structured without being rustic. The dinner confirmed the aromatic power of the Pessac Leognan appellation, lots of characterful wines here. Decanting advised for this wine.
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5/14/2019 - Eudemis Likes this wine:
13% alcohol. Good dense cork of average length, with virtually no wine penetration. Lovely smell off the cork. Decanted an hour ahead.
The colour is dark, with barely a sign of thinning at the edge of the rim. Very good fruity nose of ripe blackcurrant; no oak in evidence. The mouth has plenty of energy, with a pleasant juicy character. Some residual tannins in the finish. This bottle is a bit too young to display complete harmony, but it will get there in a few years. Very pleasant now for those who can cope with some bite in their Bordeaux.
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4/20/2019 - TS Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decent Pessac, but not extraodinary. A bit disappointing to be a 2005. Still tannic, no rush to drink, but will it be better with time?
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12/28/2018 - Baltazar wrote: 89 Points
Somewhat restrained on the nose and framed by noticeable tannin, this bottle indicates that the wine needs more time to fully blossom. Another bottle a few years ago was more approachable, so I was a bit surprised. What was there was fine, but had expected more punch. Nice tones of warm bricks, cedar wood and graphite, as well as some black currants. Round and supple. Should get better.
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11/3/2018 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 90 Points
Classix pessac, with fresh Cabernet fruit, balanced tannin and acidity. Nice food-wine.
Drink up now, I find these perfect now.
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2/20/2018 - Julian Marshall wrote: 88 Points
Good but very slightly disappointing. Red berries and earthy Pessac notes at first, not very tannic, a promising middle section but then a sense of angular hollowness and an odd finish, with citrus fruits (!). So slightly weird.
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1/31/2018 - duchamp wrote: 91 Points
Medium ruby, perfumed nose with black currant, black plum, pine nettles, graphite and black tea with mocha undertones, lean and still tight on the palate with teethy tannins, dark fruit and ripe acidity, lean but long finish with loads of layered red and black fruit with wood and earth ascents
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9/20/2017 - ProfByron Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very pleasing, quite an intense Graves cabernet oriented Bordeaux, as expected for 2005, but some unexpected aged complexity - are the 2005 classed growths finally opening up ?
Worth buying, and enjoying over the next decade.
{13%, cork}.
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9/8/2017 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Lovely black and blue fruit, so much freshness on account of the acidity of the vintage, and classy dryness on the finish. Am looking forward to the '15 and '16.
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8/30/2017 - Gen NY Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good Graves. Drank off and on two nights which led to a disjointed experience. It's at its best 2/3 hours into a decant. I'll capture more detail when I have another. Not a bad place to start drinking 05s.
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8/6/2017 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Similar to previous notes, this is delicious but also thought-provoking and sophistocated. I love the primary blackberry tone, but there are plenty of secondary notes - a sweetness, dryness, a little prune and marzipan. I look forward to the '15 and '16.
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7/18/2017 - David Meddings wrote: 91 Points
Opened 1 hour prior. Lovely nose of cassis and sandalwood. Palate follows bouquet with good complexity, fine tannins laced with deft use of oak and some spice notes. Moderately long final.
Drinking very well now but still progressing towards even greater integration and complexity.
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6/21/2017 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
I had the luxury of comparing this to the '10 vintage. This is as expected a bit softer and more resolved vs. the '10. Though still powerful, it feels lighter than the '10. I love the style of this Chateau - big, black fruit, some licorice and espresso. I think the '10 is just a litter deeper and more defined.
Held up perfectly on the 2nd day after vacuum seal and refrigeration - virtually no change.
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12/10/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Tasting great right now with its gravel and mineral fruit.
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10/18/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Big pessac barnyard nose, bold, nice 05 mid palate, still lots of tension.
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10/15/2016 - midgetsun Likes this wine: 89 Points
Inky crimson, very concentrated. Mid-plus weight. Very fresh nose of wet stones, iron filings, and blackberry gastrique. Austere palate, though very smooth. Not yielding a ton of flavor, yet; but flashes of rich fruit. I'd say these are still early days for this wine's development.
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10/14/2016 - David Meddings wrote: 91 Points
Opened 1 hour prior. Dark garnet with some faint bricking and suspended sediment. Lively bouquet showing tobacco, menthol, oak and forest. Brisk attack opening into a lively mid-palate with oak notes perhaps a shade too prominent but still very engaging. Light on its feet and builds into a fine final with bright cherry fruit playing off against oak and fine tannic backdrop over a medium final.
This was very nice - lovely balance. Seems very open for business but I expect it will continue to improve.
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9/21/2016 - Andre Brattland wrote: 91 Points
Darker pessac, long body with some muted darker forrest fruits. Leather, spices, and plum. Missing some complexity. Would it develop further? Im not sure. 90-91p
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6/10/2016 - Baltazar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delightfully expressive and precise on the nose, with notes of brick, earth, leather on a base of red fruit. Round and elegant in the mouth, cool fruit and good length. A 2005 that is showing well now, and very good value.
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4/25/2016 - Bobhelge wrote: 90 Points
Pessac-Leognan tasting: Another Pessac-Leognan from the great 2005. Latour-Martillac shows dark fruit, with a spicy touch and hints of tobacco, leather and brick wood on the nose. Good concentrated palate, but this has a really soft texture. I almost got that Pomerol feeling, which is very pleasing for a Merlot fan (although this one only has a share of 32 % Merlot). Long soft finish with red fruit and toasted oak.
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2/18/2016 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Monthly tasting club "The Tasting Club" 2016-02; Bordeaux 2005 (@ DJ): Beautiful bouquet with red and dark forest fruits, vanilla and licorice. On the palate concentrated and ripe dark forest fruits, some red berries as well, sweet spices, chocolate, licorice and vanilla. A bit dusty. Firm acidity and fairly soft tannin with still a good bite. Good length. Beautiful wine.
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11/20/2015 - khmark7 wrote: 84 Points
Aromatic, but devoid of character, no Caberenet herb or spice. This is just red juice. Massively simple now.
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8/31/2015 - David Meddings wrote: 91 Points
Splash decant. Opened nicely over the following hour or two. Lifted bouquet showing cassis and some spice wood notes. Silky red fruit mid-palate, tannins nicely integrated, an interesting backdrop of cedar hints and minerality. Good length.
This is drinking very well now and I expect is just starting a long plateau. Paired very well tonight with roast chicken but this is also sufficiently light (in a relative way and in the good sense of the term) that this could also be enjoyed on its own.
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5/17/2015 - socidelvino Likes this wine: 89 Points
Eye: deep crimson. Nose: dried cherries, herbs. Palate: crisp, good fruit, full body, well balanced, medium to long finish
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4/25/2015 - Hawk94 wrote: 91 Points
Earthy, mushroom nose with underlaying black fruits, smooth tannins, refined, firm and meaty backbone, balanced with great acidity, long complex finish. It is very good drinking now. A few more years will get better.
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1/13/2015 - khmark7 wrote:
Gah! Brutally tannic and primary. Hold! Hold! Hold!
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12/19/2014 - Poisey Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smooth with silky fine tannin. Elegant frame that finishes with focus. Earthy out of bottle turning to leather, cassis and flowers. Tart red berry finish. 2-3 years more will do.
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11/22/2014 - Flennerz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consumed with family on the eve of my son's Christening. Decanted 1 hour before consumption. Supple, with kirsch and black fruit; good tannic solidity - I'm guessing this was quite an imposing wall when younger - which dried slightly on the end of a long finish. Medium-bodied, refined and alluring. Most enjoyable. My sister was a bit slower in drinking her glass so when I tried it a little later (she let me!) - perhaps 2 hours after dinner - the fruit was still there. I have no idea whether the "to 2020" window is right here, but if I had more bottles I'd probably drink them in the next year or two.
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9/12/2014 - Kris G Does not like this wine: 88 Points
very concentrated, seems almost like an "en primeur" tasting, in a way you think that this is way too young, but I'm not convinced that this wine has a bright future ahead of it
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5/20/2014 - stayhappy21 wrote: 85 Points
Tasted this at the Quartet of Bordeaux Masterclass at The Tower Club.
Wine is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. Colour is purplish brown, with a distinctive chocolate nose, followed by hints of mocha and tobacco.
On the palate the wine is still tannic with a good structure but the middle of the body is missing. The spice in the wine was evident, as was the acidity.
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4/15/2014 - Rezy13 wrote:
Tuesday Night Double Blind <$40 (Bin 75): Darker core with bricking rim; compost, warm earth, tobacco, currant, stank, meat, Christmas spice, classic Bordeaux; some coffee on the palate, grainy tannin, youthful yet open and drinking well, good structure, green pepper, generous yet hard at the same time.
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4/11/2014 - David Meddings wrote: 89 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Dark garnet. Blueberry and spice nose with some tobacco leaf notes. Juicy dark fruit profile with soft tannins, good balance and a long final. Interesting minerality adds some complexity. I enjoyed this very much which bodes well for my future bottles.
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3/12/2014 - yofog wrote: 89 Points
The character of this wine is still showing through, but this is definitely ripe,full-bodied, and loose-knit for La Tour-Martillac. Not my favorite vintage.
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12/8/2013 - Baltazar wrote: 89 Points
Expressive nose of black currant, earth and minerals. Nice and cool palate, sweet fruit, good length, and framed by fine tannns. Will get even better, but is very enjoyable already.
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11/25/2013 - Max Power wrote: 88 Points
It was very light bodied after decanting for about an hour. Almost gave up on it but it was really nice after another hour or so on the table. Give it time and it rewards but it's not a blockbuster 2005. Decent qpr at $30-40. Might be peaking now.
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10/11/2013 - socidelvino Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep garnet color, cherries, smoke, leather, herbal, solid structure, good tannins, nice fruit, long finish.
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9/7/2013 - hubas wrote: 88 Points
Lots of mushroom tones good balanced
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4/2/2013 - RobertWinesWeLove wrote: 88 Points
Mörk frukt, svartvinbär, plommon, rätt mycket ek. Bra syra och tanninrikt. Bra balans och lång eftersmak
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2/13/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 89 Points
Developing nicely with a tobacco, black cherry, plum, earth and smoke filled nose, this medium bodied, soft wine is already drinking well.
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1/29/2013 - johnh1001 wrote: 92 Points
Nice full red and dark fruit, leather, some tobacco. Very nicely integrated yet still bright on the palate. Surprisingly evolved for a 2005. Nice smooth medium finish.
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11/10/2012 - Mad Dog Mikey wrote: 89 Points
I would wait another 3 years before I have another go at this one. It shows a lot of potential - albeit overly tannic@the moment.
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9/10/2012 - pilot360 wrote:
Thought this was a great wine, after drinking many New World rhone bottles over the last few days, this was a welcome relief in savory vs fruit. Totally enjoyable - briar, herbs for rosemary and thyme. slightly bitter.
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4/19/2012 - Ho Bryan wrote: 89 Points
None of the reticence for which so many 2005s are currently known, this one was open for business. Great expressive and fragrant nose - very seductive floral and touch of Graves moss. The palate was a disappointment - initial impressions were it lacked fruit and was a bit thin. Surprisingly though, it didn't fall apart on the second night (overnight was in the fridge) and is drinking nicely. Perhaps a disappointment overall given the vintage, but attractive and expressive Bdx at this price point.
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2/9/2012 - eriklenh wrote: 87 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs. It's lacking fruit with a medium body - Relativ viel Tannine, wenig Frucht und etwas unbalanciert. Brauchte noch ?
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1/21/2012 - socidelvino wrote: 88 Points
Eye: deep purple, violet color. Nose: blackberries, cassis, vanilla, smoke. Palate: strong tannins, a bit acidic, fruit somewhat muted, long finish but lacks the harmony I recalled last tasting.
After 1 hour the wine softened and the fruit emerged as dark cherries and cassis.
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9/18/2011 - hubas wrote: 87 Points
The wine did not really open up but what was there was well balanced and elegant. Feels like the wine might be in the tunnel phase and on its way out.
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9/1/2011 - HenrikJ Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good freshness on the nose with nice spiciness, herbs, licorice and currant bush (foliage and berries together). Taste is very tight, delicious but lacks some length on the finish. (oddly enough, the 2005 felt tighter and more restrained than the barrel sample of the 2010)
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3/6/2011 - mduque wrote: 87 Points
licorice, blackcurrent, tobacco, roses, maybe even some bacon ! good structure, good length, fruit, some pencil lead. It's quite good. Can be kept for a while still.
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1/2/2011 - pereik wrote: 88 Points
Initialy leather and some fruit one the nose. After a while in the decanter the leather is gone, and there is dark fruit and some flowers on the nose. Dark, warm fruit, vanilla, and a lot of tannins in the mouth. Contrary to other CT-notes, I find that this wine has a decent finish. Not often that I rate a wine above average on CT, but this is a decent - but not elegant - Bordeaux.
This wine craves for red meat.
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10/2/2009 - balassis wrote: 86 Points
Deep ruby with hints of raisins, currants, cherries and oak, both on the nose and palate.
Just a simple Pessac-Leognan.
Perhaps needs more time.
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7/5/2009 - aurbanik wrote: 89 Points
Very promising, but definitelly not ready yet. Lot's of fruit on attack, nice balance, a bit on acidic side, long finish. Hope it will be outstanding in 5 years.
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1/29/2009 - Partenaire wrote: 81 Points
Nez boisé, avec des nuances de poivron. Tanins polis et plus discrets, mais j'ai un doute à savoir si ce n'est pas dû à une utilisation excessive de bois.
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1/26/2009 - ews3 wrote: 85 Points
Union des Grand Crus 2005 & 2006 Bordeaux Tasting - NYC (Lighthouse, NYC): Plum, red fruit, raspberry
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1/24/2009 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
UGC LA: Beaut. classic nose for Pessac; forest, rich; needs 10 yrs.
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2/23/2008 - Vinoguy wrote: 91 Points
Decanter Bordeaux Fine Wine Encounter (The Landmark Hotel, London): Classic nose with hints of cigarbox. Medium bodied, concentrated and tannic, backward. Primary fruit. Long tannic finish.
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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 some mustiness. Unrated.
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4/8/2006 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 88 Points
BORDEAUX 2005 / Graves reds and whites tasted in 2006 (Bordeaux): Fresh wintergreen aroma with white pepper. Palate slightly thin, indistinct, but shows fruit and freshness. 87-88+
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