Ready to go right out of the bottle but also got better over the next couple of days. Dark red fruit, spice and earth. Still very youthful, bright acidity and dusty tannin. Overall a pleasure to drink. Has a decade + left.
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Bought several bottles 8-10 years ago--perhaps 15-18/b, given modest reputation--but details not handy. Decanted with considerable sediment. Beautiful color; subdued nose and body, excellent mouthfeel. Hoped it might open with 24h, but it was much the same--not noticeably better or worse. Try again within a year? Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: I've stopped giving scores on a "100-point scale" as I've become less convinced that they can be meaningful to others. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. I consider this notable when considering quality, age, and price.
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Drinking nicely after 1hr+ decant. Inviting nose that hints at the terroir only fully disclosed by an easy entry firmed-up with a streak of charcoal. Good balance and structure here. Slightly grippy tannins continue to integrate but are in an enjoyable place now. Clean through mid-palate showing some menthol and culminating in a satisfying finish. Great vintage and a very good QPR for Bordeaux.
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This is hitting its prime now... Very St. Estephe... Close to Cos in their average years (1994, 1997, 1999)- certainly as good if not better than their 2nd wine for this year... I love it... Fantastic QPR! Tannins have softened giving way to the lush cherry fruit and other characteristics of the terrier... Running low on supply, i think one or two left...
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First bottle of two. What a nice surprise! Open for business now, also leaning towards modern/Cali style with black berries rounded and even plush. Enjoyable. Roundness clashed a little with grilled balsamic/garlic marinated lamb chops as the fruit came across a bit strong, but held-up on it's own nicely. A very good QPR (for under $30 at purchase), IMO, from St. Estephe.
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decanted for four hours prior to this note. big ripe dark fruits dominate the nose along with a touch of heat. on the palate the fruit and tannins are in balance with enough acidity to be a pleasant, if relaitvely simply bordeaux. this is not bad for the price, but not something i'd seek out again; its too modern for my taste.
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After 1.5 hours decant, lush with ripe dark fruits, purple color and nice legs showing on the glass, looks and smells very Cos-like up front, but that's where the comparison ends... Not that it's a bad thing, Cos costs 10x what this wine is worth! This is an excellent QPR wine! Much better than on release, time was needed and it's paying off.. Silky and smooth on the finish, and it grips you throughout. I'd say she could last much longer, but is quite a pleasure to drink right now... Seek the '09 and '10s for sure!
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Opened and double decanted for 7 hours before tasting. Very nice tastes of black fruits. Then had with dinner and tastes really enhanced. Really liked it
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Decanted 1 hr and returned to open bottle for 3 more. Wonderful aroma. Blackberry, plum, minerals, bit of earth. Caressing tannins and just right acidity. Long fruit filled finish. Love St. Estephe!
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Tannins have integrated and after an hour in the decanter, a variety of dark red fruits become apparent. Still, this wine seems muted and I suspect could use more time.
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A lot going on here. Plum, blackberry, licorice, spice and leather. St. Estephe mineralality definitely there. Nice finish. Will last several more years.
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Directly from cellar: color was deep ruby, nose of pepper and red currant. Palate had a backbone of tannins, no real fruit.
Day two, after sitting corked at room temperature - same nose, still tannic but a bit moderated. Medium weight in the mouth. I think this wine needs food!
I prefer a bit more sense of the actual grape in my wine, but I did enjoy this. I think it should age well.
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Aromas of red and black currant with sweet oak underlying. The palate offers more complexity, with blackberry, spice, rosemary, fresh leather with plum, slight licorice and light mineral. Fine tannins. Good balance with a nice acid.
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Drank over 4 days, wine with quite some ageing potential. I enjoyed it but I have the feeling (or should I say I hope) that it needs more time to really come together. Certainly a good wine but not wow for the moment.
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2005 Bordeaux Seminar at the Boston Wne Exp (World Trade Center): Oaky rose petals on the nose (what the heck is that?!?!), potpouri with a touch of soy sauce. More rounded fruit, more fruit forward with some licorice. A more "modern" style. 60/40 Maerlot, Cab Sauv.
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Excellent value for a 2005 Bordeaux. Structured and tannic, but well-balanced, with good acidity and depth. Very St. Estephe in style - this tasted like a baby Calon-Segur. Held up very well for several days after opening. I wouldn't be surprised if this got even better with a few years in the cellar.
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Deep ruby rim with a black center. Nose of charcoal smoke, sweet blackberry and red cherry, graphite and floral perfume. On the palate it is medium bodied and meaty in the middle, with youthful fine tannins. Falls off a bit towards the end though. (NB: I think this was very slightly corked).
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Wow - my first 2005 Bordeaux, and its really good. I split a case and was just looking for a good occasional wine. I wasn't expecting much so it was a great surprise to find out how good it was. The nose was great. The first taste right out of the bottle was nice and smooth. The tannins showed themselves the more I sampled. It was good enough that I bought another case while I could. I'll now enjoy this over the next few years, which will help me keep the good stuff aging. Its not a 30 sec finish but excellent QPR.
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8/29/2023 - NoWineWiz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice integration of blackberries, blueberries, dark cherry, a little oaky, tobacco, and chocolate. Refined, but noticeable, tannins and medium finish.
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8/30/2022 - Bobc7had Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice surprise. Drinking beautifully right now. Enjoy!
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2/19/2019 - SICILIAN-SOLE Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ready to go right out of the bottle but also got better over the next couple of days. Dark red fruit, spice and earth. Still very youthful, bright acidity and dusty tannin. Overall a pleasure to drink. Has a decade + left.
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5/7/2018 - Oenecnist wrote:
Bought several bottles 8-10 years ago--perhaps 15-18/b, given modest reputation--but details not handy. Decanted with considerable sediment. Beautiful color; subdued nose and body, excellent mouthfeel. Hoped it might open with 24h, but it was much the same--not noticeably better or worse. Try again within a year? Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: I've stopped giving scores on a "100-point scale" as I've become less convinced that they can be meaningful to others. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. I consider this notable when considering quality, age, and price.
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4/8/2017 - Primordialsoup Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking nicely after 1hr+ decant. Inviting nose that hints at the terroir only fully disclosed by an easy entry firmed-up with a streak of charcoal. Good balance and structure here. Slightly grippy tannins continue to integrate but are in an enjoyable place now. Clean through mid-palate showing some menthol and culminating in a satisfying finish. Great vintage and a very good QPR for Bordeaux.
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10/13/2016 - Bobc7had Likes this wine: 88 Points
very nice. better after a 2 hour decant
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1/23/2016 - winchester-xi Does not like this wine:
Too bland to justify its modest price of $22. Meh.
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12/17/2015 - BrunelloBob wrote: 88 Points
Plum, fig, prune, tannin. I maintain my long-standinfg position that "affordable" Bordeaux is a sucker bet...
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12/4/2015 - Marquis du Vin wrote: 93 Points
This is hitting its prime now... Very St. Estephe... Close to Cos in their average years (1994, 1997, 1999)- certainly as good if not better than their 2nd wine for this year... I love it... Fantastic QPR! Tannins have softened giving way to the lush cherry fruit and other characteristics of the terrier... Running low on supply, i think one or two left...
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11/8/2015 - Primordialsoup Likes this wine: 91 Points
First bottle of two. What a nice surprise! Open for business now, also leaning towards modern/Cali style with black berries rounded and even plush. Enjoyable. Roundness clashed a little with grilled balsamic/garlic marinated lamb chops as the fruit came across a bit strong, but held-up on it's own nicely. A very good QPR (for under $30 at purchase), IMO, from St. Estephe.
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8/5/2014 - prof b wrote:
decanted for four hours prior to this note. big ripe dark fruits dominate the nose along with a touch of heat. on the palate the fruit and tannins are in balance with enough acidity to be a pleasant, if relaitvely simply bordeaux. this is not bad for the price, but not something i'd seek out again; its too modern for my taste.
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8/2/2014 - Marquis du Vin wrote: 91 Points
After 1.5 hours decant, lush with ripe dark fruits, purple color and nice legs showing on the glass, looks and smells very Cos-like up front, but that's where the comparison ends... Not that it's a bad thing, Cos costs 10x what this wine is worth! This is an excellent QPR wine! Much better than on release, time was needed and it's paying off.. Silky and smooth on the finish, and it grips you throughout. I'd say she could last much longer, but is quite a pleasure to drink right now... Seek the '09 and '10s for sure!
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3/1/2014 - joet626 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened and double decanted for 7 hours before tasting. Very nice tastes of black fruits. Then had with dinner and tastes really enhanced. Really liked it
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2/23/2013 - kcsteve Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted 1 hr and returned to open bottle for 3 more. Wonderful aroma.
Blackberry, plum, minerals, bit of earth. Caressing tannins and just right acidity. Long fruit filled finish. Love St. Estephe!
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1/27/2013 - joet626 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was very good . Great bouquet as I decanted it. Wonderfully dark color and great depth on the palate. Fruity and rich. A very good bottle.
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11/6/2012 - prof b wrote:
Tannins have integrated and after an hour in the decanter, a variety of dark red fruits become apparent. Still, this wine seems muted and I suspect could use more time.
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2/24/2012 - kcsteve wrote: 90 Points
A lot going on here. Plum, blackberry, licorice, spice and leather. St. Estephe mineralality definitely there. Nice finish. Will last several more years.
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1/14/2012 - CDH wrote: 88 Points
Directly from cellar: color was deep ruby, nose of pepper and red currant. Palate had a backbone of tannins, no real fruit.
Day two, after sitting corked at room temperature - same nose, still tannic but a bit moderated. Medium weight in the mouth. I think this wine needs food!
I prefer a bit more sense of the actual grape in my wine, but I did enjoy this. I think it should age well.
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9/3/2011 - vegasoenophile wrote: 89 Points
Aromas of red and black currant with sweet oak underlying. The palate offers more complexity, with blackberry, spice, rosemary, fresh leather with plum, slight licorice and light mineral. Fine tannins. Good balance with a nice acid.
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4/27/2011 - ScottGoodwin Likes this wine:
Dirt, tobacco, leather. Black fruits. Drinking really nicely right now.
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4/11/2011 - marcohurt wrote: 88 Points
Beim Läpchen op der terrasse. Coco, tannins vanille an nach stark fiir sain alter
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9/9/2010 - NCO wrote:
Drank over 4 days, wine with quite some ageing potential. I enjoyed it but I have the feeling (or should I say I hope) that it needs more time to really come together. Certainly a good wine but not wow for the moment.
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4/24/2010 - WinstonWolfe wrote: 86 Points
The nose was great and hopefully a preview of whats to come but this bottle is currently way out of balance. Tart and acidic right now.
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5/1/2009 - stevewinebets wrote: 90 Points
Dark in color and rich in taste- earthineness combined with great fruit and leather- god tannins
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1/24/2009 - ScottGoodwin wrote: 89 Points
2005 Bordeaux Seminar at the Boston Wne Exp (World Trade Center): Oaky rose petals on the nose (what the heck is that?!?!), potpouri with a touch of soy sauce. More rounded fruit, more fruit forward with some licorice. A more "modern" style. 60/40 Maerlot, Cab Sauv.
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9/8/2008 - MRichman wrote:
A pleasant cheap Bordeaux. Unremarkable, but a decent drink.
C+
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7/9/2008 - deltacop wrote: 89 Points
Not as good as the first bottle. More tannic then I recall. Still a nice wine. I'll let the others sleep for a few years.
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7/3/2008 - Spencer wrote: 89 Points
Excellent value for a 2005 Bordeaux. Structured and tannic, but well-balanced, with good acidity and depth. Very St. Estephe in style - this tasted like a baby Calon-Segur. Held up very well for several days after opening. I wouldn't be surprised if this got even better with a few years in the cellar.
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6/29/2008 - dougsmith wrote: 89 Points
Deep ruby rim with a black center. Nose of charcoal smoke, sweet blackberry and red cherry, graphite and floral perfume. On the palate it is medium bodied and meaty in the middle, with youthful fine tannins. Falls off a bit towards the end though. (NB: I think this was very slightly corked).
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3/21/2008 - deltacop wrote: 90 Points
Wow - my first 2005 Bordeaux, and its really good. I split a case and was just looking for a good occasional wine. I wasn't expecting much so it was a great surprise to find out how good it was. The nose was great. The first taste right out of the bottle was nice and smooth. The tannins showed themselves the more I sampled. It was good enough that I bought another case while I could. I'll now enjoy this over the next few years, which will help me keep the good stuff aging. Its not a 30 sec finish but excellent QPR.
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