2005 Château de Candale St. Émilion Grand Cru

Community Tasting Notes (31) Avg Score: 88.9 points

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  9/12/2020 - GrapeScott wrote: 88 Points

  Another one of those modern-styled overripe Right Bank wines hyped by critics that I wish I had never listened to. This is not as over the top as some wines from this era, but is shows a lot of toasty oak, coffee-tinged kirsch, and some minty garrigue notes. Shows a bit of a "scorched earth" quality like some grenache-based wines from CdP and Priorato. I hold out some hope that this may eventually come into better balance as it is more enjoyable now than it was 5-10 years ago.

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  4/24/2020 - Somm David T Likes this wine: 92 Points

  We met & visited a number of Bordeaux producers while 2005 was still in the tank or just into barrel.
  
  In talking with Winemaker-Owners about the 2005 vintage, you could see the twinkle in their eye as they were asked questions. They knew they had Bordeaux magic for the first time in five years.
  
  We tasted this at what was deemed an “Affordable Bordeaux Tasting.” This was on the higher end of that tasting at $35. It is delivering a little better than its young expectation and the jewel to date from that tasting.
  
  With and without protein, the 05 Chateau de Candale moved between 92-93.
  
  The nose reveals; warm alcohol, immersed fruits of; black raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, dark cherries, poached/slightly baked, dark cherries, dark spices, purple fruit, cola mix, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dark, rich, candied, forest floor, fresh & dry tobacco, graphite, slight, moist clay, stones, dry, crushed rock chunks, whiff of bay leaf & sage, dry stems, pepper quality with candied, dark, dark red, purple, blue with violets & lavender.
  
  This is a very good first look at this 2005. God willing, I have another look in on bottle two of three in another five years. This 05 has another 15 plus years of good drinking ahead with proper storage.
  
  The body is full, tarry with big, sticky, chewy tannins. Baked/poached, floral fruits of; black raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, dark cherries, black plum, pomegranate, dark spices with a heavy, heated presence, purple fruit, cola mix, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dark, rich, candied, forest floor, fresh & dry tobacco, loads of graphite, slight, moist clay, stones, dry, crushed rock chunks, dry top soils, whiff of bay leaf & sage, dry stems, muted eucalyptus, pepper quality with candied, dark, dark red, purple, blue with violets & lavender. The acidity is round & full just holding, for me, the slightly higher ABV in check. The long, heavy, dark, well knitted, more earth/spice dominated finish is showing the quality of the vintage. Yet, it still needs more time to be its best.

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  1/15/2019 - 408er wrote: 90 Points

  Was not awesome. Fruit was muted and despite its age tannins were a bit too sharp

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  8/17/2018 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points

  End of the Coravin bottle

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  4/4/2018 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points

  Another Coravin glass from the same bottle is surprisingly young for its 13 years of age (and $23 purchase price). Bright cherry fruit, spice, tannins. I really do like it - more than my spouse. I think it will be even better with some more bottle age - or an hour decant. Tasty with my roasted, free-range dark meat chicken with herbs.

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