Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)

This is pure pleasure, with tiny pulses of electricity, brushed leather, sulphur, loam, truffle, blackberry, black cherry, with touches of silky tannins, smoked caramel and black chocolate. A wine that makes you smile, so much depth and power, barely out of its primary phase, but we are starting now to get the whole picture of what it will become. There is a lush edge to the tannins now that was not the case even two years ago. Such a different expression from the 2009 and 2010 Mouton, with this a little more old school in its charms, and for me you can now project yourself foraward, more like the 1986, a little dry and strict at first, but finessed and gorgeous, delivering grip, punch and magic. Eric Tourbier and Philippe Dhalluin on the technical team. 63% first wine, extremely low for the time (lowest since 1975, whereas today they are regularly below 50%). If you are going to open this anytime soon, think of it as a bottle to enjoy very slowly over four or five hours seeing the nuances develop. 100% new oak.

Wine Spectator (93)

Very grapey on the nose, with mineral, tarragon and fresh flowers. Full-bodied, with very well-integrated tannins and a light vanilla, berry and milk chocolate aftertaste. Subtle and balanced. The best Nenin in years. Best after 2012. -JS

Exuding finesse and complexity, the Nicolas Maillart Franc de Pied Extra Brut 2005 is a masterful creation of this esteemed ninth-generation producer. Born from the fertile soils of Montagne de Reims, in the heart of Champagne, France, this vintage is a rare jewel, boasting a 100% Pinot Noir composition. Crafted from un-grafted vines, known as 'Franc de Pied,' this technique imparts a distinctive intensity and purity to the wine. The vineyard's sustainable farming practices further elevate the natural integrity of the grapes.

Meticulous vinification in small oak barrels instills depth, structure, and texture to this mesmerizing Extra Brut. On the palate, expect a lively interplay of juicy quince and bright citrus, underscored by a tantalizing mineral edge. Exhibiting a harmonious balance between power and subtlety, the Nicolas Maillart Franc de Pied Extra Brut 2005 is an embodiment of Champagne's sophisticated terroir and Maillart's exceptional winemaking legacy.

Vinous (91-94)

Good dark red. Sweet, complex aromas of raspberry, minerals, spices and faded rose. Sexy and fine-grained in the mouth, with sweet flavors of kirsch, violet and minerals. Sappy, expressive wine with terrific intensity and lovely length. This has real finesse.

Wine Advocate (93-94)

The Potel 2005 Vosne-Romanee Les Gaudichots offers a nose of cherry, red raspberry and spice box. Cinnamon and white pepper are among those that hitch a ride on the creamy palate, where intensely ripe, sweet red fruits, raw meat, and suggestions of caramelized root vegetables expand to fill all recesses of the mouth. Concentrated and complex manifestations of meat, roasted root vegetables, and mineral along with distilled red fruit suggestions inform the superbly long, multi-registered finish. Amazingly, there are three whole barrels of this.

Olivier Depardon Beaujolais Les Charmes 2005 is a captivating embodiment of Beaujolais masterfully crafted by esteemed vintner, Olivier Depardon. This exemplary harvest hails from the esteemed Les Charmes vineyard, located in the picturesque soils of the renowned Beaujolais region in France. The highly-acclaimed producer deploys traditional winemaking techniques, ensuring the purity of the French Gamay grape is adroitly captured. The result is a stunning crimson-hued wine boasting a remarkable bouquet of red fruits and tiers of underlying complexity.

The Olivier Depardon Beaujolais Les Charmes 2005 presents an intriguing palate defined by its ripe, juicy, and elegant character with well-integrated tannins disclosing a sophisticated, velvety finish. This exceptional vintage is reflective of Depardon's sheer dedication and meticulous attention to detail. Acquire a bottle and savour this fine, well-aged gem – an exquisite testament to the grandeur of Beaujolais winemaking tradition.

Wine Advocate (90)

The 2005 Les Pagodes de Cos is a delicious second wine, with soft tannin, a dense ruby/plum/purple color, loads of blackcurrants, cherries and some earth in an easygoing, sexy style. Drink it over the next decade or more.

Wine Spectator (100)

Opulent and flamboyant are the two words that come to mind with this wine. Aromas of blackberries, dark chocolate and toasted oak follow through to a full-bodied palate, with big, chewy tannins (yet they are refined and silky) and a long, long finish. This is a full-throttle Palmer. Superripe and delicious. Score range: 95-100

Wine Spectator (100)

Opulent and flamboyant are the two words that come to mind with this wine. Aromas of blackberries, dark chocolate and toasted oak follow through to a full-bodied palate, with big, chewy tannins (yet they are refined and silky) and a long, long finish. This is a full-throttle Palmer. Superripe and delicious. Score range: 95-100

Wine Spectator (95)

Solid core of fruit in this wine with excellent structure that reminds me of red wine. Tight and well-knit. Goes on for a long, long time. 60 percent Sauvignon Blanc and 40 percent Sémillon. Score range: 95-100

James Suckling (100)

A very complex nose of lavender, currants, spices, and hot stones. Full and dense on the palate, with a very tight structure. The tannins have a perfect polish to their density, and the finish is very intense, with wonderful fruit and truffle character. This turns almost decadent, with tremendous energy and a constantly changing profile. This is a very challenging wine to get to know, please leave this for at least ten years. Pull the cork in 2015.

Vinous - Josh Raynolds (92-95)

Dark ruby, almost opaque. Assertively fragrant nose combines pungent violet- and lavender-accented cassis, blueberry, cherry pit and graphite. Spicy dark fruit and mineral flavors shows an impressive sweetness that carries into the solidly tannic and very long finish. This boasts great depth and chewy texture, but the dominating impression today is of rich, powerful fruit.

Wine Spectator (92)

Has a mix of candied citrus peel, floral, lanolin and fig flavors, with a nicely firm finish. Long and tight, with the citrus and floral notes holding the fruit at bay for now. Needs time to unwind. Best from 2008 through 2013. 25 cases imported. -JM

Wine Advocate (100)

Gérard Perse believes this is the greatest Pavie he’s made to date, although certainly I would argue that list includes the 2000, as well as the 2009 and 2010, among his superstars. This wine, which I had both in the 2005 horizontal report in the Wine Advocate, and at a mini-vertical with Perse at the restaurant Maison Boulud in Montreal, looks to be a 75- to 100-year wine. Dense, opaque purple to the rim, with a gorgeously promising nose of blackberries, cassis, graphite and cedar wood just beginning to emerge, it tastes more like a three-year-old than wine that is already a decade old. This beauty is intense and full-bodied, with magnificent concentration, a majestic mouthfeel and a total seamless integration of tannin, wood, alcohol, etc. Beautifully rich, full and multidimensional, this is a tour de force in winemaking and certainly one of the top dozen or so 2005 Bordeaux. Forget it for another 3-5 years and drink it over the following 50-100 years!

Wine Advocate (100)

Gérard Perse believes this is the greatest Pavie he’s made to date, although certainly I would argue that list includes the 2000, as well as the 2009 and 2010, among his superstars. This wine, which I had both in the 2005 horizontal report in the Wine Advocate, and at a mini-vertical with Perse at the restaurant Maison Boulud in Montreal, looks to be a 75- to 100-year wine. Dense, opaque purple to the rim, with a gorgeously promising nose of blackberries, cassis, graphite and cedar wood just beginning to emerge, it tastes more like a three-year-old than wine that is already a decade old. This beauty is intense and full-bodied, with magnificent concentration, a majestic mouthfeel and a total seamless integration of tannin, wood, alcohol, etc. Beautifully rich, full and multidimensional, this is a tour de force in winemaking and certainly one of the top dozen or so 2005 Bordeaux. Forget it for another 3-5 years and drink it over the following 50-100 years!

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

A blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, from a cool limestone terroir on the plateau, the 2005 Château Pavie Macquin is extraordinary juice, and the finest vintage of this cuvee I’ve ever tasted. Sporting a saturated purple color as well as an off the hook bouquet of crème de cassis, blackberries, smoked earth, chocolate, and Asian spices, with a sensational sense of minerality developing with time in the glass. Deep, full-bodied, massively concentrated, and multi-dimensional, it’s just now at the early stages of its drinking plateau and it will probably keep for another 2-3 decades. Count yourself lucky if you have bottles of this in the cellar!

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

The 2005 Pavillon Rouge is in a beautiful spot right now where it is just beginning to show signs of aromatic complexity and nuance. At fifteen years of age, the DNA of the vintage remains - Pavillon Rouge is a potent, hulking wine. Sweet tobacco, cedar, mint, dried flowers and anise add layers of nuance. Readers lucky enough to own the 2005 should be delighted. I imagine the 2005 will drink beautifully for another decade or more. Today it is positively stellar. The more it opens in the glass, the more classic it becomes.

Wine Advocate (100)

A perfect wine in this vintage, the 2005 Péby Faugères has the classic liqueur of blueberries and spring flowers. Dense purple and full-bodied, with unbelievable richness, this tastes like a great Napa Cab from the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, even though there’s no Cabernet Sauvignon in it. This is a sensational wine – rich, full and multi-dimensional, with a skyscraper-like mid-palate and finish. Kudos to Péby Faugères for producing one of the perfect wines of the vintage. Drink it in about 3-4 years as well as over the following two decades.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

The 2005 Petrus is dazzling. Rich, ample and explosive, the 2005 possesses magnificent density from start to finish. An exotic mélange of cedar, blood orange, spicebox, mint and dried flowers leads into a core of deep, concentrated fruit. All the elements meld together seamlessly in a Petrus that simply has it all. Readers fortunate enough to taste it will find a statuesque, monumental Petrus that is both powerful and refined. The 2005 continued to improve as I tasted it into the second day. It is without question one of the standout wines of 2005.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

The 2005 Petrus is dazzling. Rich, ample and explosive, the 2005 possesses magnificent density from start to finish. An exotic mélange of cedar, blood orange, spicebox, mint and dried flowers leads into a core of deep, concentrated fruit. All the elements meld together seamlessly in a Petrus that simply has it all. Readers fortunate enough to taste it will find a statuesque, monumental Petrus that is both powerful and refined. The 2005 continued to improve as I tasted it into the second day. It is without question one of the standout wines of 2005.

Wine & Spirit Magazine (96)

Baron was trapped in its oak en primeur, seeming flashy, luscious and soft. Now bottled and shipped, it has the unremitting tannic power of the vintage, balanced by unrelenting purity of fruit that somehow manages to anesthetize the monstrous tannin, to soften the extremely dry, mineral-bound finish into a caress. The wine may be bombastic, but it's also succulent and as sweet as a ripe black raspberry. It's easy to imagine this wine 50 years from now, in impeccable condition.

Wine & Spirit Magazine (96)

Baron was trapped in its oak en primeur, seeming flashy, luscious and soft. Now bottled and shipped, it has the unremitting tannic power of the vintage, balanced by unrelenting purity of fruit that somehow manages to anesthetize the monstrous tannin, to soften the extremely dry, mineral-bound finish into a caress. The wine may be bombastic, but it's also succulent and as sweet as a ripe black raspberry. It's easy to imagine this wine 50 years from now, in impeccable condition.

Decanter (97)

Beautifully extracted, this is rich, ripe and layered. It is utterly gorgeous and has real precision and tension. It delivers its Pauillac swagger with the most gentle of hands - the tannins are fine, layered-up and building their defences without imposing too heavily on the succulent black fruits. It judges the vintage extremely well and is the best in this line-up for me. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 60% new oak.

LaRVF (90)

Domaine Pierre Damoy Chambertin Grand Cru 2005

Vinous (93-96)

Saturated ruby. Explosive aromas of blackberry, cherry and licorice, along with an intense floral note. Impressively fleshy and mouthfilling, with dense, sweet red and dark berry flavors, a subtle garrigue quality and supple tannins. Lush, creamy and extremely long on the finish, with a dominant flavor of ripe blackcurrant.

Vinous (93-96)

Saturated ruby. Explosive aromas of blackberry, cherry and licorice, along with an intense floral note. Impressively fleshy and mouthfilling, with dense, sweet red and dark berry flavors, a subtle garrigue quality and supple tannins. Lush, creamy and extremely long on the finish, with a dominant flavor of ripe blackcurrant.

James Suckling (97)

Grilled bread with flowers, pears and apples. Lots of perfumes. Lavender and some herbs and nutmeg. The palate is tight and solid with fine phenolics and a long, intense finish. Pure and extremely linear and lively. Sophisticated and thought-provoking. Drink or hold.

Burghound (97)

This beauty had not come my way since I first reviewed it from bottle in 2008 and it continues to shine beautifully. There is some secondary development lurking in the background of the wonderfully spicy aromas of both red and dark currant, violet, game and newly turned earth. The dense, powerful and sappy flavors are still blessed with seemingly endless reserves of dry extract while the supporting tannins, while certainly present, are no longer so prominent as to render the strikingly long finish unduly compact or too tightly wound. While this should continue to age effortlessly for years to come, it's not so far away that it couldn't be enjoyed now. A seriously lovely Clos de la Roche.