I’m a big 05 Issan fan. Thanks for the check-in.
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Can mods combine redundant threads?
https://www.wineberserkers.com/t/recent-experiences-with-2005-bordeaux/304048/1
In recent years, I have really liked 1986 LLC, Pichon Lalande and Rausan Segla. I think I like wines with more acidity than a lot of people - I am a German wine lover and a Burgundy lover after all. I have had some really good 1985s and 1990s, but a lot of them are too soft for me.
I had the 2005 d’Issan from half bottle recently, and it was lovely, very pretty. It showed mainly primary flavors still but it wasn’t clenched or closed or shut down. Indeed, for folks who like their reds young and vigorous, it’s probably in a perfect place.
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Very timely topic, as I am trying to decide between a 2005 Trotanoy and a 2005 Pavie to open up in a few weeks for a father son dinner with three other dads (all boys born in 2005 and are graduating high school this year). One dad is bring a 2005 Latour. No idea on the other dads. Thoughts? Or go with a CA 2005 (Colgin Cariad)?
Tempted by some relatively recent tasting notes from Lisa Perrotti-Brown and Antonio Galloni, I broached a 2005 Smith Haut Lafitte. With a short decant, the wine was quite lovely and entirely drinkable. It wasn’t showing a lot of tertiary development, but it had lovely fresh fruit with a hint of green herbs, firm structure and energetic finish without seeming overly tannic. Galloni called it “lush” and LPB called “plush,” but this bottle was neither; if anything, it was a bit thin. Maybe my bottle wasn’t representative, but despite my trepidations on opening, it was quite enjoyable.
I haven’t seen the thread up till now, and have only one data point to contribute, but that is a recent one, from December:
2005 Chateau La Lagune
It’s been 7 years since my last bottle from this Haut-Medoc. I gave it 3 hours of decanting. It still is not ready 
But it’s closer to it than it was 7 years ago. Identifiable cocoa, graphite, blackberry and redcurrant start in the nuzzie and translate to the tongue. There is still some oak and tannin presence that hasn’t settled down yet. Good match with the Pot Roast.
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I am very much with you, Howard - love the 86’s, with Rauzan Segla and Gruaud Larose being perhaps my favorite, though PLL also wonderful. Hoping the 05 vintage comes out similarly in time.
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I had the Picon Lalande a number of years ago, but it was very promising and i am not surprised it has turned out well
I purchased the 2005 Clos du Clocher [Pomerol] on indent – and perhaps some more recent vintages too – but had not pulled a cork on any until a few days ago. Only a few thousand cases are made, so I hardly ever see it; these were purchased when I lived on the other end of the continent. I quite like this and am pleased with how it developed! The label states 14% abv and it’s medium bodied, with an elegant, silky style. The tannins have rounded out, yet there is still a hint of structure. Good depth of flavor which lasts on the tongue, with a lactic/creamy character on the first days, then expanding into a floral bouquet over the next day. And rather wonderfully, I find truffle aromas in this merlot/cab franc blend too, which played well with chicken in a creamy Vermouth sauce with portobellos and shitakes. The fruit is not wildly red nor black, straight up the middle for my tastes. Upon opening I thought I had waited too long, but as this 2005 expanded, I reassessed and think it’s still fine to hold if a collectors’ drinking queue is backlogged. I’d give this an A- and suggest decanting if there is time. When I look at the color of the rims, I don’t see any bricking/fading/orange yet - impressive for a double decade right banker.
The vineyard is well situated, between Trotanoy and VCC. I have not opened that many 2005’s but have generally loved what I tried, but I focused on AOC Margaux and Pomerol in that vintage.
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Enjoyed a 2005 Chateau Malescot last weekend, secondary flavors are in full effect.
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The 2005 Gazin Pomerol was excellent recently. Young but already drinking well. Best of all, it was quite classic in style, there’s plenty of fruit but nothing is overdone.
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Am wondering how this played out.
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I drank 2005 Conseillante a few weeks ago - decanted ~5-6 hours and then drank over a couple. It was excellent and happy to own more
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Ended up with the Trotanoy. Decanted for a few hours, but needed more time. Still, it was enjoyable and the dads all liked it (although only two of us are really “wine” people). Ended up choosing Trotanoy since I still have bottles left of that, but have only a single 2005 Pavie left. We drink the Trotanoy in the room with some cheeses and meats. The 2005 Latour was taken to dinner. Obviously very different settings, but generally people liked the Trotanoy better, although I liked the Latour more. Did not take notes, so just going by memory from almost two years ago.
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I sold most of my Pavie… from what I have read its not my style and better to sell and redeploy $ elsewhere (I kept a couple bottles but they may go in my next culling … still too much wine, not enough space)
Some nice 05s on KL auctions right now, some of which won’t break the bank and cheaper than new releases, etc.
Great lineup of 05s at the new Berry Bros & Rudd in DC a a couple of weeks ago.
Château Langoa Barton, St Julien
Château Brane-Cantenac, Margaux
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac
Château Léoville Barton, St Julien
Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac
Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan
Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac
Château Montrose, St Estèphe
Château Palmer, Margaux
Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac
All of the wines were double-decanted the night before, which for me might have been a bit much.
Tasting began at 530pm
The wines showed great purity with mostly softened, but still quite present tannins leaving some of the wines with a slighlty linear palate.
For me the 2005 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac, Bordeaux was showing fantastic concentration and still unwinding aftert the 75mins+ tasting.
They held a blind tasting game with a bottle of 2010 Chateau Talbot as well, which was showing beautifully.
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Thanks for the update. I own a few of those wines. The 2005 Grand Puy Lacoste was super impressive (95 pt territory) on release, haven’t had it in a while.
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I followed the link and found the wines. Definitely on the high side, although I assume pristine.