Has anybody started trying Bordeaux 2005s? What are your views?

I also shy away from the modern Bordeaux style, and don’t think I’d pay the current price for Larcis Ducasse. But I won’t refuse a glass when it’s offered to me!

Personally, I love the vintage, just behind 2016 as my favorite of the 21st century. I have tasted Pichon Baron and VCC on their own, otherwise my notes are from when included in verticals. The Pichon and VCC were superb if only just beginning to show some signs of moving out of the primary stage.

Within the verticals, they have been stand outs but always with the caveat that they need time. Exception was a slightly dilute Pichon Lalande, otherwise nothing suggested that my really positive take on the vintage en primeur, is not correct.

Are you drinking the wines now or leaving them for a few years?

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2005 Leoville Poyferre earlier this year. Absolutely phenomenal. Still plenty of structure for longer aging, but drinking somewhere between late primary to early secondary with gorgeous integration.

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Had a Pontet Canet about three years ago, that was just maybe emerging from a slumber… but probably needs more time.

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Had an 05 Pavie-Macquin a couple months ago. Nose was showing some nice development but the palate was still tight. We gave this about a 3 hour decant but it seemed to want maybe 6 or 8.

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Sociando Mallet was good 2 years ago and Pichon Baron was a year ago. Haven’t touched Pontet Canet, Leoville Barton/Poyferre, or Branon.

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Recent-ish (2021) big tasting at Mark Taylor’s in Atlanta

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Had half a case of d’Armhailac over the last year that has been drinking great with just a little air. Early window I’d say.

Branaire-Ducru was open for business a couple of months ago. Can drink or hold.

Had 2005 Palmer recently. Phenomenal.

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I’ve been very happy with the bottles opened over the summer. I think that except for the truly stubborn producers (looking at you, Montrose), it’s now safe to go into the water

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Infanticide on a 2005 Montrose, for science, last December. Needed half a day of air, and led me to get a few more bottles, but it was too early. I’d say northern medic needs more time but the vintage is great.

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05 Phelan Segur was lovely a few months ago. Plenty left in the tank as well

I had one about a year ago and I had a similar experience, absolutely gorgeous wine and one I’ll remember for a long time. 2005 Calon Segur was fantastic too, but the Palmer was on another level.

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That Montrose is gorgeous, however. I had one a year ago and immediately bought more. Then bought then.

Had the 2005 Pontet Canet last weekend. Solid but this chateau does not excite me. I did write notes on the 2007 Levet we popped that night, however.

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Du Tertre and Batailley have been good. Domaine de Chevalier seems off balance to me and Langoa Barton is some years from being ready

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This experience really turned me on Palmer and have bought multiple vintages since then.

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Stop it, please! I promised myself I’d wait till 2030 to open mine. :joy:

I have had quite a few during a long-weekend with several friends at the beginning of August:

  • Malescot Saint-Exupery
  • Leoville Barton
  • Cos D’Estournel
  • Clos Fourtet
  • Grand Puy Lacoste
  • Pape Clement
  • Canon-La Gaffeliere
  • Brane-Cantenac

They were all open for business with the exception of the Grand Puy Lacoste, very closed and in need of possibly five more yearsl

Best of them all Pape Clement. Leoville Barton also impressive. Cos a little disappointing for me, at least relative to expectations.

To be honest the biggest problem we had was that we also opened a lot of Rhones, some of them terrific (Janasse Vieilles Vignes 2007, Deus Ex-Machina 2007, Chapoutier Le Pavillon 2013, …) so for most of us Bordeaux was left behind.

Not a good idea to compare wines as extracted as the Rhones with the Bordeaux (even though 2005 was a fairy extracted and intense year for them). Possibly a waste of good wine and money.

Great week-end though!! :wink:

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Have some Cos that I’ve been wanting to open but know it can go a lot longer. May cave and try a bottle soon.