Jeb Dunnuck (100)

The 2005 Angelus is as good as it gets, and despite having 2-3 decades of prime drinking ahead of it, is as profound a drinking experience as money can buy even today. Offering off the hook notes of blackcurrants, smoked herbs, blackberries, toasted spice, espresso and scorched earth, this beauty is unctuous and opulent on the palate, with incredible depth, yet never seems heavy, cumbersome or over the top. It has more depth and concentration than the 1990 (and I suspect any vintage in the 1990s or 2000s) and will keep for another 30 years or more.

Wine Advocate (90)

A sleeper of the vintage, this 2005 seems to be close to its plateau of maturity. It exhibits a dense ruby/plum/purple color, wonderfully sweet and silky tannins, loads of blackcurrant and floral-infused fruit, medium body and a long, layered, elegant and pure personality. It is drinking quite well and exhibiting no reason to extend its aging. This wine should continue to offer gorgeous and good-value drinking for another decade.

Wine Advocate (96-98)

Rousseau’s 2005 Chambertin – assembled from four parcels, three of them in relatively cool, well-ventilated portions of this cru – offers high-toned aromas of plum distillate, tea and marzipan, but on the palate, chalk, raw beef, dried plum, bitter-sweet black fruits and roasted fennel flavors combine for a low-registered richness. This is the creamiest, plushest, most voluminous, and perhaps in the final analysis deepest wine of this year’s Rousseau collection, with a savory meatiness, chalky minerality and a well of fruit impossible to plumb at such an early stage in what will certainly be three or more decades of testimony to the true greatness of this famous site.

Wine Advocate (96-98)

The 2005 Chambertin Clos de Beze offers alluring aromas of licorice, mint, vanilla, plum paste, cherry preserves and rose petals, and seduces the palate with silky, incredibly refined texture and several octaves of fruit, herbal, floral and mineral notes, leading to a reverberative finish in which fruit pit and stony, chalky elements lend a sense of dark, weighty authority and an umami-like, meaty savor promotes uncontrollable salivation. No layering or mixing of metaphors can hope to do justice to the layering and concatenation of flavors on display.

Wine Advocate (96-98)

The 2005 Chambertin Clos de Beze offers alluring aromas of licorice, mint, vanilla, plum paste, cherry preserves and rose petals, and seduces the palate with silky, incredibly refined texture and several octaves of fruit, herbal, floral and mineral notes, leading to a reverberative finish in which fruit pit and stony, chalky elements lend a sense of dark, weighty authority and an umami-like, meaty savor promotes uncontrollable salivation. No layering or mixing of metaphors can hope to do justice to the layering and concatenation of flavors on display.

Wine Advocate (97)

One of the great renditions of this cuvée in recent times is the 2005 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques, a magical wine that unfurls in the glass with a deep and complex bouquet of red berries and plums mingled with hints of raw cocoa, violets, blood orange and peony, complemented by enticing carnal bass notes. Full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, it's seamless and complete, with fine concentration, racy but ripe acids and ample reserves of fine, powdery tannin, concluding with a long and sapid finish. The 2005 Clos Saint-Jacques is a decade away from full maturity, but its reference-point quality has long been impossible to miss. This bottle, enjoyed in a Burgundian restaurant, only amplified my regret that I have none of this particular vintage in my own cellar.

Wine Advocate (97)

One of the great renditions of this cuvée in recent times is the 2005 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques, a magical wine that unfurls in the glass with a deep and complex bouquet of red berries and plums mingled with hints of raw cocoa, violets, blood orange and peony, complemented by enticing carnal bass notes. Full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, it's seamless and complete, with fine concentration, racy but ripe acids and ample reserves of fine, powdery tannin, concluding with a long and sapid finish. The 2005 Clos Saint-Jacques is a decade away from full maturity, but its reference-point quality has long been impossible to miss. This bottle, enjoyed in a Burgundian restaurant, only amplified my regret that I have none of this particular vintage in my own cellar.

Vinous (90)

The 2005 Gevrey-Chambertin captures the richness of the year in its pliant, open personality. Wonderfully dense and expressive, especially for a village-level wine, the 2005 is drinking beautifully today. Worn-in leather, spices, tobacco and dried dark cherries meld into the succulent, expressive finish. This is a terrific village-level offering from Rousseau.

Burghound (96)

There is an all-but-invisible touch of brett present on the otherwise pretty and beautifully layered nose that features notes of various dark berries, violets and a wide range of spice elements. The gorgeously refined middle weight flavors possess a suave and silky mouth feel before culminating in a strikingly complex finish that seems to dance across the palate while delivering flat out huge length. This is still moderately firm yet with air it could easily be enjoyed now. Note that my score offers the benefit of the doubt regarding the brett as I have no other recent notes and thus I can't say whether this bottle was entirely representative.

Burghound (96)

There is an all-but-invisible touch of brett present on the otherwise pretty and beautifully layered nose that features notes of various dark berries, violets and a wide range of spice elements. The gorgeously refined middle weight flavors possess a suave and silky mouth feel before culminating in a strikingly complex finish that seems to dance across the palate while delivering flat out huge length. This is still moderately firm yet with air it could easily be enjoyed now. Note that my score offers the benefit of the doubt regarding the brett as I have no other recent notes and thus I can't say whether this bottle was entirely representative.

Vinous (93)

Deep red. Smoky red and black fruit aromas are complicated by licorice and minerals. Highly concentrated, sweet and deep, with a medicinal quality to its black fruit flavors. A wonderfully seamless wine with terrific pinot sap. Finishes with superb ripe, spreading tannins. Widespread millerandage here has yielded a wine with terrific volume, but there's nothing heavy about it.

Vinous (89-91)

Good deep red. Aromas of cassis, violet and bitter chocolate. Denser and fleshier than the regular village bottling, but with distinct similarities in shape and style. Ripe acids intensify the dark berry and spice flavors.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

The 2005 Ausone is magnificent. A wine of soaring intensity and class, the 2005 dazzles from the very first taste. The aromatics alone are captivating, with notes of cinnamon, mint, crushed rocks, blood orange, mocha and incense. Graceful and stately in bearing, the 2005 boasts tremendous purity and breathtaking balance. Readers will find a stunning Saint-Émilion that is just at the beginning of what promises to be a very long drinking window that will be measured in decades. It is a towering achievement from the Vauthier family.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

The 2005 Ausone is magnificent. A wine of soaring intensity and class, the 2005 dazzles from the very first taste. The aromatics alone are captivating, with notes of cinnamon, mint, crushed rocks, blood orange, mocha and incense. Graceful and stately in bearing, the 2005 boasts tremendous purity and breathtaking balance. Readers will find a stunning Saint-Émilion that is just at the beginning of what promises to be a very long drinking window that will be measured in decades. It is a towering achievement from the Vauthier family.

Wine Advocate (94)

The first bottle of 2005 Bellevue that I tasted had a maderized, oxidized nose that was off-putting. This note is from a second bottle. This second bottle showed absolutely no trace of oxidation, but did offer plenty of crushed, chalky minerality, notes of plum, blueberry, black raspberry and cherry fruit, a dense purple color, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and fabulous structure, purity and length. It should drink well for at least another 20+ years.

Vinous (95)

Saturated, bright ruby-red. Flamboyantly aromatic, wild nose features blackberry, meat, licorice, minerals, espresso and sexy oak. Like liquid silk on the palate, but with great concentration to the perfumed flavors of dark fruits, game and violet. Wonderfully classy grand cru that finishes with superb length and lift and fine-grained, utterly seamless tannins. Seems a far cry from Dugat's more extractive, chunkier wines of the late '80s and early '90s. This obviously got a very soft bottling, without fining or filtration.

The Wine Independent (94)

The 2005 Beychevelle is composed of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. Deep brick in color, it skips out with shimmery, care-free scents of kirsch, raspberry pie, blackcurrant pastilles, and rose oil, followed by suggestions of Ceylon tea, unsmoked cigars, and red loam. The medium-bodied palate is built like a brick house, featuring firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness to support the youthful black and red fruits, leading to a finish of great length and depth on this stunning wine.

Honouring the Burgundy region's esteemed reputation, the Bizot Vosne-Romanee 2005 distinguishes itself as the paragon of traditional winemaking. Pioneered by the Bizot family, renowned for their meticulous viticulture, this particular vintage epitomises their commitment to excellence. Produced in the legendary terroir of Vosne-Romanée, the wine benefits from the unique climatic conditions and limestone-rich solis to nurture the vine's full potential.

With an enchanting balance of elegance and power, the Bizot Vosne-Romanee 2005 delivers exotic scents of black cherry, violets, and earthy undertones. Rendered through a sophisticated vinification process, the wine retains the Pinot Noir's purity, while subtly displaying the region’s hallmark spices and velvety tannins. Aged delicately in oak barrels to preserve the variety's inherent complexities, the final assemblage enthralls with an impressive longevity. The Bizot Vosne-Romanee 2005 is truly a timeless investment for connoisseurs with a discerning palate keen to explore the deep-rooted heritage and nuances of Burgundy's most prestigious appellation.

Wine Spectator (92-94)

Lots of blackberry, spice, tar and licorice. Full-bodied, thick and rich. This is very dense. Pure fruit. Best ever from here. Score range: 92-94

Wine Enthusiast (95)

94-96 Barrel sample. Initially this wine seems soft, but then it becomes obvious that the tannins are very present, dry and massive. But they are already well integrated, going together with the herbs, the spice and pure black fruit flavors. Impressive wine.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)

The 2005 Canon is all brawn and muscle. Chunky tannins give the 2005 a decidedly virile feel. There is plenty of depth and freshness - this is after all one of the very best sites in all of Bordeaux - so the 2005 will hold for many years to come. Dark fruit, leather, smoke, gravel, crushed rocks and spice linger on the potent finish. Tasting the 2005 today really highlights how far Canon has come in recent years

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)

The 2005 Canon is all brawn and muscle. Chunky tannins give the 2005 a decidedly virile feel. There is plenty of depth and freshness - this is after all one of the very best sites in all of Bordeaux - so the 2005 will hold for many years to come. Dark fruit, leather, smoke, gravel, crushed rocks and spice linger on the potent finish. Tasting the 2005 today really highlights how far Canon has come in recent years

Wine Enthusiast (91)

Though this is the second wine for Lafite-Rothschild, it is a major wine in its own right, with its dense, powered fruit and a structure obviously built to last. There is sweet, rich fruit and lively vibrant acidity. Imported by Domaines Barons de Rothschild and multiple U.S. importers.

The Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil Perrieres 2005 is a masterclass in organic winemaking from the exquisite region of Loire Valley. This exceptional red hails from Pierre and Catherine Breton, esteemed vintners dedicated to vinification sans chemicals since 1982. Grown in clay and limestone soil, the Cabernet Franc grapes were handpicked and naturally fermented, delivering a bouquet of dark fruit and earthy tones.

Meticulously aged for 24 months in seasoned oak barrels, Perrieres 2005 offers the gift of complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with moderate acidity and firm tannins, a harmony of blackcurrant, earthiness, and subtle spice. This biodynamic beauty boasts promising longevity, making it a unique addition to any collection.

Experience the taste of tradition interwoven with innovation and conscious winemaking in every drop of Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil Perrieres 2005.

Aside from producing some of the greatest, rarest wine on Earth, Ausone’s terroir is exceptional for its consistency. Vintage after vintage, both its Grand Vin and second wine excel whilst others stumble – the latter representing a miniscule 10% of the total production of an already dramatically small amount. The perfect illustration of this, barely 500 cases of Chapelle d’Ausone were made in 2005 – it is astonishing that there are any left!

2005 was a particularly extraordinary vintage for Ausone. The very first year in which Pauline Vauthier took full control of winemaking decisions, both wines from the property are as stunning a debut as any vigneron on the planet has had. 2005 is, in general, an excellent vintage in Bordeaux, famed for its purity, freshness and fruit underpinned by muscular yet fine tannins. A vintage that required time in bottle, it is finally rewarding collectors ten times over for their patience.

Wine Advocate (100)

My favorite of the 2005s from Chapoutier, the 2005 Ermitage Le Pavillon is a heavenly wine that comes from one of the greatest sites for Syrah in the world, the steep, granite-dominated hillside of les Bessards. Getting a bevy of expletives in my notes, this insanely good Hermitage offers classic notes of smoked meats, charcoal, liquid rock, burning embers, chocolate and cassis, as well as a thick, unctuous and massively concentrated style on the palate. Changing in the glass, with exotic aromatics, incredible purity and building, polished tannin, Syrah doesn’t get any better. Given the youthful profile here, I’m sure this will see its 50th birthday in fine form, but it still delivers plenty of pleasure today given its texture, purity and balance.

Vinous (95+)

(13.6% alcohol; 30 h/h; 9/26 harvest): Healthy full red. Ripe, rich nose offers a spectacular combination of red and darker fruits, minerals, spices, mocha, mint, dried flowers and underbrush, lifted by strong florality. Wonderfully concentrated, sappy, still-youthful wine with outstanding tactile depth and fruit retention to its flavors of cherry, redcurrant and crushed rock. Combines the energy and precision of the '08 with the greater volume of the '09. This compellingly chewy, extract-rich wine, still a bit brooding and short of its peak, expands and builds inexorably on the aftertaste. There's a 3-D texture and a noble soil character here that I find exhilarating.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

The 2005 Cheval Blanc is another wine that is utterly mesmerizing from the moment it is opened. Exquisite in its aromatics, the 2005 Cheval is sublime on the palate, where the interplay of Merlot and Cabernet Franc proves to be captivating. In a night of truly spellbinding wines, the Cheval makes a deep impression because of its overall finesse and nuance. Along with the Margaux and Haut-Brion, the Cheval speaks to total refinement and polish. The Cheval is of course not one of the bigger, more imposing wines of the night, but it is among the most complete, which makes it the perfect wine to close out an incredible night. When we first opened the 2005, I thought it might very well be the wine of the night. A few hours later, it was every bit as impressive.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

The 2005 Cheval Blanc is another wine that is utterly mesmerizing from the moment it is opened. Exquisite in its aromatics, the 2005 Cheval is sublime on the palate, where the interplay of Merlot and Cabernet Franc proves to be captivating. In a night of truly spellbinding wines, the Cheval makes a deep impression because of its overall finesse and nuance. Along with the Margaux and Haut-Brion, the Cheval speaks to total refinement and polish. The Cheval is of course not one of the bigger, more imposing wines of the night, but it is among the most complete, which makes it the perfect wine to close out an incredible night. When we first opened the 2005, I thought it might very well be the wine of the night. A few hours later, it was every bit as impressive.