2005 BORDEAUX: Greatest Vintage
Fri. Dec. 12, 4:30-7:30pm & Sat. Dec. 13, 2-5pm, BELMONT
“Tasting the 2005 red wines from the bottle, many of them three or four times, confirmed that this is the greatest vintage produced during my 30-year career. A great majority of the wines are far superior from bottle than they were from cask, confirming the quality of this remarkable vintage. Most of the ratings that follow are on the conservative side, and I look forward to revisiting many of these 2005s in 5-10 years.” –Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

2005 COTE DE BALEAU, St. Emilion $38
“The Reiffers family has had resounding success with all three of their 2005s (Cote de Baleau, Grandes Murailles, and Clos St.-Martin). The dense purple-colored Cote de Baleau offers up notes of kirsch liqueur and black fruits in its sweet, concentrated, full-bodied personality. With ripe tannin as well as decent acidity, it will offer lovely drinking over the next 12-15 years.”

2005 BLASON d’ISSAN, Margaux $40
Second label of famed Margaux estate, Chateau d’Issan. Superb! 2005 Blason d’Issan shows plenty of characteristic Margaux aromas, charm & finesse, and offers the advantage of enjoyable drinking now and over the next 5-10 years.

2005 LARRIVET HAUT BRION, Pessac Leognan $53
“Exhibiting classic Graves aromas of smoky, volcanic, scorched earth, herbs, chocolate, and black cherries, Larrivet Haut-Brion’s dense ruby/purple-colored 2005 possesses superb depth, and silky yet abundant tannins. It is an excellent effort displaying a provocative bouquet as well as 15 or more years of aging potential.”–Wine Advocate

2005 MALARTIC GRAVIERE, Pessac Leognan $75
“Perhaps the strongest wine I have ever tasted from Malartic Lagravière, the 2005 has a dense ruby/purple color and a wonderfully sweet nose of crème de cassis, graphite, and soil undertones. Medium-bodied, smoky, with classic scorched earth, Graves-like aromatics and flavors, this wine displays impeccable winemaking, with pure fruit, medium body, and gorgeously long, rich flavors and moderate levels of tannin. This is possibly the finest Malartic Lagravière ever made. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025.”–Wine Advocate

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