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Home Browse Wines Vintage Report Order Form
All Wines Investment Tips Best Value Early Drinkers Top 20

Please select the bordeaux commune you are interested in


The Chateaux release their prices over several weeks during the Spring and early summer after the vintage. Where the price has not been launched we have given the wines an estimated, indicated (+), based on last year's price and any market forces which may affect demand. This estimated price will be replaced with (a buy button) when the wine has been officially released.

AGASSAC CRU BOURGEOIS HAUT MEDOC Estimated Price £68

ALTER EGO DE PALMER MARGAUX  Estimated Price £200+
W J Gardener ( 14.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2010-2015
Delicious impact of ripe fruit instantly charming, a real compote. Gentle and rich early drinker.

ANGELUS 1ER GRAND CRU ST.EMILION   Estimated Price £650+
W J Gardener ( 17.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2016-2035
Good depth of colour, very oaky nose, rich and creamy palate, very full and complex, chocolatey and fresh intesity, very impressive length. Excellent.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 96-98 ) Drinking Dates : 2010-2030
Could this be the most profound Angelus yet made by the brilliant Hubert de Bouard since he turned this once under-achieving estate around in the mid-eighties? A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the spectacular, inky/blue/purple-hued 2005 (7,080 cases; 14.5% natural alcohol) exhibits an extraordinary projected nose of blueberries, blackberries, liqueur of minerals, flowers, and subtle, toasty new oak. Magnificently concentrated, displaying a seamless integration of acidity, wood, tannin, and alcohol, a soaring mid-palate, and a finish that lasts over 60 seconds, this is a wine of compelling potential.

AUSONE 1ER GRAND CRU ST.EMILION   Estimated Price £3000+
W J Gardener ( 18.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2020-
Almost black, the nose is perfumed but not as open as the La Chapelle; opening gradually some oaky vanilla notes coming through, flowers, very compact on the palate, lots of power and acidity, very tight, loads of dimension here underneath, simmering, a giant of a wine which will need plenty of patience.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 96-100 ) Drinking Dates : 2020-2100
I’m not going out on a limb saying the 2005 Ausone is better than the 2003, 2000, etc., but it is certainly at the same level. It is a wine of great intensity with extraordinary extract as well as a seamless integration of huge levels of tannin and alcohol. Amazingly deep and multilayered, but so ethereal it must be tasted to be believed, it is a rich, full-throttle offering that should outlive us all. It should not be consumed before 2020, but I suspect 95% of it will be long gone by then. Kudos to Alain Vauthier for pushing the envelope as far as anyone in Bordeaux is doing today.

BAHANS HAUT BRION PESSAC LEOGNAN  Price £ 425
W J Gardener ( 15/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2020
A broader nose than the Chapelle. Spicy and open, soft and elegant, maybe slightly less polished than the Chapelle, but the tannins are ripe and the fruit is prominent, will come together nicely in time.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 90-92 ) Drinking Dates : 2006-2018
The 2005 Bahans-Haut-Brion is a lighter, more accessible version of its more famous sibling. Dark ruby with smoky currant and sweet cherry aromas, this wine is already complex and generous in delivering fruit, glycerin, and silky tannin. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.

BATAILLEY 5TH CRU PAUILLAC  Estimated Price £150+
W J Gardener ( 15/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2015-2025
Bright purple, menthol nose, soft generous palate weight, lots of tannin, good overall feel and balance.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 90-92 ) Drinking Dates : 2013-2030
Always a serious vin de garde that requires considerable patience, Batailley’s 2005 may be their finest effort in the last forty years. An inky/ruby/purple color is accompanied by classic aromas of black currants, flowers, licorice, and spice box. With huge tannin, medium to full body, impressive concentration, and good depth, it will be drinkable between 2013-2030.

BEAUREGARD POMEROL  Estimated Price £175+
W J Gardener ( 14.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2020
Inky colour, medium power on the nose, lots of intense primary fruits, nice weight and quite full, always a delicate complete wine.

BEAUSEJOUR BECOT 1ER GRAND CRU ST.EMILION Price £ 480
W J Gardener ( 15/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2025
Full colour creamy nose pleasant elegant fruit, juicy, spicy & peppery, good weight, very attractive finish. Nice easy balance not overly extracted.

BELLEVUE MONDOTTE ST EMILION   Estimated Price £1200+
W J Gardener ( 18/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2013-2030
This is incredibly deep as deep as I have seen anywhere. The yield is only 15hl/ha! Almost a solid block of blackness, nose of blackberries, very sweet, intense cassis, wow this is so concentrated, the fruit is so ripe and rich on the palate, this wine is very modern , californian in style but at the same time the minerality is there and the balance is very fine. A monster in the making.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 96-98 ) Drinking Dates : 2010-2030
The quintessential garage wine, Bellevue Mondotte emerges from a five acre vineyard acquired by Chantal and Gerard Perse in 2002. Situated on pure limestone above the Perse’s two other vineyards, Pavie and Pavie Decesse, the average age of the vines is 45 years, and the blend tends to be dominated by Merlot (90%) with tiny dollops of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. A prodigious wine of extraordinary intensity, it differs from Pavie in that it is more open-knit, expansive, and ripe, and not as strikingly intense in minerality. Boasting colossal proportions, the inky/purple-hued 2005 reveals a sumptuous nose of creme de cassis, kirsch, licorice, new saddle leather, and roasted meats. Dense, opulent, and voluptuous with high tannin, this tour de force in winemaking should be among the more precocious of Perse’s 2005s.

BERLIQUET GRAND CRU ST EMILION Estimated Price £160+
W J Gardener ( 14/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2011-2020
Attractive good legs; fresh nose of strawberries, cool grip, quite pure and intense nice roundness medium weight, nice length.

BEYCHEVELLE 4TH CRU ST. JULIEN   Price £ 325
W J Gardener ( 16/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2013-2025
Deep plum with a pale rim, soft entrée, very juicy fruit, nice evolution and length, with a classy Cabernet finish. Very good.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 91-93 ) Drinking Dates : 2006-2036
The most profound Beychevelle since the 1982, the elegant yet powerful 2005 exhibits an opaque purple color as well as a sweet nose of plums, black currants, flowers, and minerals. Medium to full body, refreshing acidity, good definition, and strong flavors characterize this top-flight effort. It should easily last for 25-30 years.

BRANAIRE DUCRU 4TH CRU ST JULIEN   Estimated Price £300+
W J Gardener ( 16/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2015-2025
Fuller colour than some, very intense, cerise, rich and exotic nose, full with some animal notes, this is big and burly a large frame with concentrated fruit and excellent length
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 94-96 ) Drinking Dates : 2011-2030
Branaire, which has been ratcheting up the quality level over the last 5-6 years, made such a great 2003, I am hesitant to suggest the 2005 is as good, or even better. It will undoubtedly come down to consumer’s personal preference, with the 2003 more exotic and flamboyant, and the 2005 more structured or “classic.” In any event, the 2005 is one of the top Branaires ever made. Its inky/ruby/purple color is followed by sweet aromas of spring flowers interwoven with black cherries, cranberries, cassis, plums, and hints of forest floor, wet rocks, and new oak. With wonderful purity, full body, terrific fruit intensity, a beautiful, expansive texture, and a stunning 45-50-second finish, it should be at its peak between 2011-2030.

BROUSTET 2ND CRU CLASSE BARSAC Estimated Price £142

BROWN PESSAC LEOGNAN   Price £ 122
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 88-90 )  
 

CALON SEGUR 3RD CRU ST. ESTEPHE  Price £ 650
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 93-96 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2030
This is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon (as ripe and impressive as Madame Gasqueton has ever seen) and 40% Merlot. The Merlot was harvested between September 15-22 and the Cabernet Sauvignon was brought in during the first two weeks of October. The result is a classic Calon-Segur exhibiting a dense purple color, ripe black cherry, cassis, smoke, earth, and new oak characteristics, powerful but sweet tannin, a huge texture, and broad, concentrated flavors. It will undoubtedly close down after bottling.

CANON 1ER GRAND CRU ST.EMILION Estimated Price £300+
W J Gardener ( 14.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2015-2025
Good depth of colour, quite closed on the nose. Delicacy and spice on the palate good grip, a little rigid maybe but peppery and graceful certainly very good.

CANON LA GAFFELIERE GRAND CRU ST.EMILION Price £ 615
W J Gardener ( 15/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2025
This is quite deep, often less so than some. Complex nose, some creaminess, very rich, intense. The palate is medium weight, good backbone, vibrant but lacks a little of the mid-palate which is often so emphatic here. Only very good.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 92-94 ) Drinking Dates : 2006-2021
The qualitative equal of this estate’s top-notch 2000, 1998, and 1990, the 2005 Canon-La-Gaffeliere is a stunning effort from proprietor Stephan von Neipperg. A blend of 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, it possesses complex, fragrant aromas of spice box, black currants, sweet cherries, and licorice. Dense, opulent, full-bodied, pure, and layered, it is an impressively endowed St.-Emilion that should evolve slowly, and last for 15 or more years.

CANTEMERLE 5TH CRU HAUT MEDOC   Estimated Price £125+
W J Gardener ( 14/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2015-2025
This is quite animal on the nose, usually denoting a certain concentration. There is potential here on the attack, jammy fruits with good acidity, a lively wine with good overall feel. Long and promising. Very good for a 5th Cru.

CAP DE MOURLIN GRAND CRU CLASSE ST.EMILION   Estimated Price £120+
W J Gardener ( 14/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2010-2020
Good legs, appears deep, brooding nose with a hint of black cherries, chewy cool palate, quite dense, lots of tannin, this is excellent for this estate, must be one of the values of the vinatge.

CARBONNIEUX PESSAC-LEOGNAN   Price £ 195
W J Gardener ( 14/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2011-2020
Good sweet nose rich and plummy, nicely plump mid-palate, big structure, nice full example of the commune, needs time.

CARRUADES DE LAFITE PAUILLAC    Estimated Price £260+
W J Gardener ( 17/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2025
Very dark, nice sweetness, broody insenity, spicy, very oily and silky palate, coating the teeth with lush spicy tannins, lovely acidity, this is exceptional, stand a pencil up in it its so concentrated, very fresh, lovely wine for me.

CHAPELLE D'AUSONE ST EMILION   Estimated Price £300+
W J Gardener ( 16.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2020
Wow the nose is amazing, violets and crushed flowers combined with oaky notes, the palate is pure and fresh. The fruit is pinpoint, an elegant wine with power. Another great 2nd wine.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 92-94 ) Drinking Dates : 2010-2025
Once again, proprietor Alain Vauthier sets the bar remarkably high for this cherished/hallowed terroir on the southern hillside slopes of St.-Emilion. Amazingly, Vauthier has again produced a brilliant second wine from this tiny parcel. The inky/purple-tinged 2005 Chapelle d’Ausone reveals pure scents of black raspberries, crushed rocks, and spring flowers, full-bodied, intense flavors, sweet tannin, and a long, 45-second finish. As astonishing as it sounds, this second wine is better than many Ausones from the sixties and seventies!

CHASSE SPLEEN MOULIS Estimated Price £145
W J Gardener ( 13.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2020
Very deep colour, nose is a bit closed, medium weight, the palate is compact, lacks a bit of charm.

CHEVAL BLANC 1ER GRAND CRU   Estimated Price £2500+
W J Gardener ( 18.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2040-2020
Very deep, intense power on the nose. Very pure and focused fruit. Vibrant and racy. Fine grained ripe tannins coating the mouth, powdery. Earthy leathery notes, spicy ripe power, an elegant wine with class. Complex and imposing, one of the best Chevals from cask in recent years.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 95-98 ) Drinking Dates : 2014-2030
A prodigious Cheval Blanc that should challenge the 2000 and 1998 as the finest Cheval since the 1990, the 2005's final blend consisted of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot. The Merlot harvest began on September 15th and lasted until the Cabernet Franc was finished around October 6th. Administrator Pierre Lurton told me, “I prefer to pick the Merlot a little early, and the Cabernet Franc a little late.” The deep ruby/purple-colored 2005 reveals an extraordinary projected, surreal bouquet of menthol, red, blue, and black fruits, and hints of mocha, licorice, and sweet oak. This opulent, tremendously concentrated Cheval Blanc possesses undeniable finesse, elegance, and freshness as well as a vibrant, nuanced, delineated personality. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2030+. The estate’s second wine, the 2005 Le Petit Cheval (55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc) is one of the better efforts over recent years.

CITRAN CRU BOURGEOIS HAUT MEDOC Estimated Price £115
W J Gardener ( 14.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2025
Very dark as always here, the nose is dark chocolatey, promising chewy palate, generous with good acidity. This is always very good in a ripe year.

CLERC MILON 5TH CRU PAUILLAC  Estimated Price £250+
W J Gardener ( 15.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2015-2025
Nice deep intensity on the nose, warn fruit, classic pauillac nose, quite oaky too, creamy rich exotic style on the palate, fleshy, finishes well. Very good.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 90-92 ) Drinking Dates : 2009-2020
Medium to full-bodied, tannic, fresh, vibrant, and, as the French would say, croquant (crunchy), the 2005 deep ruby/purple-tinged Clerc-Milon reveals good acidity, a fresh, lively mouthfeel, surprisingly high alcohol (13.5%) that is at odds with the brightness/freshness found in the wine’s power and richness. The final blend was 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and a smidgen of Petit Verdot.

CLIMENS 1ER CRU BARSAC  Estimated Price £500+
James Suckling / The Wine Spectator ( 95-100 )  
 

CLINET POMEROL   Price £ 725
W J Gardener ( 165.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2025-2015
Full colour, horse hair with a rich plumminess on the nose, quite pronounced compared to some, nice cool silkiness here on the palate. Lots of tannin, concentrated, even quite extracted, a full impressive effort, nice length, very good.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 94-96 ) Drinking Dates : 2010-2036
The most profound Clinet since the prodigies produced by the late Jean-Michel Arcaute in 1989 and 1990, the 2005 boasts a fabulous nose of blueberries, violets, truffles, subtle wood, and cold steel. Inky/purple-hued, full-bodied, and multilayered with adequate acidity, this exceptionally well-endowed, pure effort is a tour de force in winemaking. Although it is high in tannin, there is so much fruit and glycerin (the alcohol must be 14+%) that it should be drinkable in 4-6 years, and keep for three decades.

CLOS DE L'ORATOIRE GRAND CRU ST. EMILION   Price £ 289
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 91-94 ) Drinking Dates : 2006-2021
Fashioned by Stephan von Neipperg, the 2005 is one of the best Clos de l’Oratoires ever made. A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, the yields were small and the fruit was picked very ripe. Along with low acidity as well as loads of tannin, it reveals great fruit, and an exotic, flamboyant bouquet of cedar, spice box, black fruits, and a hint of roasted coffee. This full-bodied, opulent, sumptuous effort will be one of the few 2005s that will be impossible to resist upon release. It should drink well for 10-15 years.

CLOS FOURTET 1ER GRAND CRU ST. EMILION    Estimated Price £300+
W J Gardener ( 18/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2015-
This is very deep in colour. This is also very intense on the nose. Lots of new oak here. A different level, lovely coolness and concentration on the palate, silky and compact, very intense. Tannins are plentiful but overcoated with generous mouthfeel. Decandent stuff. For me this is one of the vintages superstars and great value.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 94-96 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2030
Under the guidance of its new owner, Monsieur Cuvelier, Clos Fourtet has enjoyed a dramatic renaissance. I did not think the estate could eclipse its other-worldly 2003, but the remarkable 2005 may do just that. A blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is given a Burgundian-styled malolactic in barrel, and is aged 5 months on its lees with batonnage. There are 6,000 cases of the 2005, which achieved 14% natural alcohol. The striking thing about Clos Fourtet is that one can see its fabulous terroir along with great purity, and stunning nobility and complexity. Its inky/purple color is accompanied by beautiful notes of blueberries, blackberries, plums, and flowers. This full-bodied wine cascades over the palate with huge concentration, high tannin, and freshness as well as sweetness. This brilliant effort should be at its peak between 2012-2030.

COS D'ESTOURNEL 2ND CRU ST ESTEPHE Estimated Price £600+
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 95-97 ) Drinking Dates : 2036-2011
The 2005 Cos d’Estournel is made from an unusual blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. The Merlot was picked during the last nine days of September, and the Cabernets were finished by the 9th of October. The 2005's 13.85% alcohol is the highest this estate has ever achieved. The implementation of such Burgundian winemaking techniques as malolactic in barrel and aging on its lees are resulting in wines of extraordinary texture as well as elegance. The 2003 may be more opulent, and for my taste a more compelling wine, but the 2005 is at the same level. Made from yields of 40 hectoliters per hectare, it exhibits an inky/purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of sweet red and black fruits, camphor, cedar, and pain grille. Extraordinarily well-defined, nuanced, and powerful, with high tannin as well as magnificent texture and richness, this classic offering will be uncommonly long-lived. It will not be close to drinkability for another 5-7 years, and should last for 30 or more. A fabulous wine!

COS LABORY 5TH CRU ST.ESTEPHE  Price £ 189
W J Gardener ( 15/20 )  
Very deep colour, wow this is concentrated, chewy and intense palate, finishes a little gritty and brutal, a big bruiser of a wine.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 88-91 ) Drinking Dates : 2013-2023
Cos Labory is another estate that has made its finest wine in decades. The medium-bodied, structured, pure 2005 exhibits notes of creme de cassis, roasted herbs, and blueberries. Consume this impressively endowed St.-Estephe between 2013-2023.

COTE DE BALEAU SAINT EMILION    Estimated Price £114+
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 90-92 ) Drinking Dates : 2006-2021
Following some indifferent efforts between 2002-2004, 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.

CROIZET BAGES 5TH CRU PAUILLAC   Estimated Price £140+
W J Gardener ( 14.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2020
Not as deep as some, quite sweet straewberry nose, the palate is soft with a good solid core, well put together this year.

CROS MARSALETTE PESSAC LEOGNAN   Price £ 149
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 90-92 ) Drinking Dates : 2006-2016
A small Pessac-Leognan estate owned by Stephan von Neipperg, who has accomplished brilliant things at his St.-Emilion and Cotes de Castillon properties, this is the finest wine Clos Marsalette has yet produced. A provocative, fragrant blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, it offers a dense ruby/purple color, a smoky, earthy, black cherry and currant-scented bouquet, a lovely texture, sweet tannin, fine freshness, and admirable definition, size, and balance. It should drink well for a decade or more.

D'AIGUILHE COTES DE CASTILLON Price £ 185
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 89*91 ) Drinking Dates : 2006-2018
Owned by Stephan von Neipperg, this sensational Cotes de Castillon exhibits a dense purple colour as well as a gorgeously sweet bouquet of melted chocolate, blackberries, cassis, and cherries. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, it is an opulent, rich effort to enjoy during its first 10-12 years of life.

D'ARMAILHAC 5TH CRU PAUILLAC   Price £ 255
W J Gardener ( 15/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2022
Full plum colour, spicy and hot nose opening up nicely, cool pure fruit palte, nicely plump some nice ripe tannins on the back, round and ample, classic, good wine this year
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 90-93 ) Drinking Dates : 2010-2020
I think the 2005 d’Armailhac may turn out even better than its stable mate, Clerc-Milon. This combination of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot achieved 13.3% alcohol. Revealing lovely creme de cassis-like notes, a beautiful texture, brightness, and sweet tannin, it is an impressively endowed, medium to full-bodied, relatively approachable 2005, although it will undoubtedly display more tannin after bottling.

DE FIEUZAL PESSAC LEOGNAN  Price £ 179
W J Gardener ( 14.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2014-2025
This is very dark in colour and very intense on the nose, oaky black cherries, big structure, powerful and dominant with a hint of femininity, very good, an excellent value.

DE MALLERET CRU BOURGEOIS HAUT MEDOC   Price £ 92
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 85-87 )  
 

D'ISSAN 3RD CRU MARGAUX   Price £ 350
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 92-94 ) Drinking Dates : 2009-2025
While some octogenarians may argue that 1900 is better, this is the finest d’Issan I have ever tasted. The 2005 boasts a deep plum/ruby color as well as a beautiful projected bouquet of flowers, licorice, sweet currants, plums, cherries, and smoke. There is lovely purity in the mouth as well as an etched, precise character, stunning concentration, decent acidity, and an impressive finish that lasts nearly 45 seconds.

DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER BLANC PESSAC LEOGNAN Estimated Price £350+
W J Gardener ( 15.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2009-2020
This is more perfumed than most, elegant nose, the acidity is elevated, ample fruit a good Pessac finishes long.

DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER PESSAC LEOGNAN Price £ 370
W J Gardener ( 15/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2015-2030
Good deep robe, lovely intense pure raspberry coulis on nose, palate seems a bit heavy in structure but the finish is clean and ripe, a big wine needing some time in bottle. Sleeper.

DU TERTRE 5TH CRU MARGAUX   Estimated Price £150+
W J Gardener ( 15.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2025
Lots of legs here, on the side of the glass., intense and clean focused black cherry fruit, silky weight, powerful, rich wine with a lovely graceful and charming finish. A serious value.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 91-94 ) Drinking Dates : 2008-2020
A terrific, fruit-forward Margaux offering wonderful smoky, melted licorice, chocolate, espresso, creme de cassis, and wild mountain berry notes, the 2005 Du Tertre possesses a dense purple color, medium to full body, superb purity, a sweet, expansive texture, and surprisingly silky, but lofty tannins. This brilliant wine should be at its best between 2008-2020.

DUCRU BEAUCAILLOU 2ND CRU ST JULIEN Price £ 1250
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 92-94 ) Drinking Dates : 2013-2030
Bruno Borie has done a fabulous job at Ducru Beaucaillou. The 2003 may be the greatest Ducru produced in the last 3-4 decades, and the 2005 is not far behind. A more backward style of wine with higher tannin, more elevated acids, and extremely high alcohol (13.6%) for this estate, its inky/purple color is followed by notes of sweet cassis and plums intermixed with licorice, crushed rocks, and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied and structured with a whoppingly long finish, it needs 8-10 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2030+. It is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot.

DUHART MILON 4TH CRU PAUILLAC   Price £ 308
W J Gardener ( 15.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2015-2030
Very dark again, hotter more meaty nose than the Carruades, beefy, again a lovely mouthfeel, more tannic and more edginess. Classic Duhart Lead pencil finish, ripe all here in a bundance. A little more four square, very long.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 90-92 ) Drinking Dates : 2010-2025
Consumers should keep an eye on this estate as their wines are getting better and better. The 2005, while not at the level of the 2003, is an impressive blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot. It offers classic cassis notes along with some of the lead pencil character of its more famous sibling, Lafite Rothschild, medium body, good purity, moderate tannin, and undeniable elegance.

FERRIERE 3RD CRU MARGAUX Price £ 220

FIGEAC 1ER GRAND CRU ST. EMILION  Estimated Price £350+
W J Gardener ( 16/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2015-2025
Seems lighter in colour than some, not too much on the nose, though quite minty. Chunky cool fruit, tannic, there is an extra dimension with this wine, could be the quality of the Cabernet Sauvignon. Good length masculine style. Quite like this. One of the best Figeac I have tasted from cask. Sure to evolve into an exciting wine.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 91-94 ) Drinking Dates : 2009-2020
The best Figeac since the 2000 and 1990, this dense plum/ruby/purple-tinged 2005 offers up sweet aromas of creosote, incense, fruitcake, black cherries, and cassis. With soft but noticeable tannin this impeccably elegant, medium-bodied, authoritatively-flavored, pure, long wine will be drinkable between 2009-2020.

FONBEL GRAND CRU ST EMILION   Estimated Price £100+
W J Gardener ( 13/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2009-2014
Very deep colour, intense nose, lots of acidity intense tannic palate, very full but there is serious fruit concentration here for a Grand Cru. Excellent again.

FOURCAS HOSTEN LISTRAC MEDOC   Price £ 89

FRANC MAYNE GRAND CRU ST. EMILION  Price £ 240
W J Gardener ( 14.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2020
Quite deep, very at the heart, good density here on the palate, round and chunky. Finishes well. Good effort.

GISCOURS 2ND CRU MARGAUX Estimated Price £250+
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 90-93 ) Drinking Dates : 2009-2022
A full-bodied, powerful Giscours, the 2005 displays a deep ruby/purple color as well as sweet aromas of red and black fruits intermixed with loamy soil, dried herbs, and a hint of pain grille. Good acidity, a plump, corpulent attack and mouthfeel, medium to full body, superb depth of fruit, plenty of glycerin (it must approach 14% alcohol), and a lusty finish suggest this beauty will be approachable young. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022.

GRAND MAYNE GRAND CRU ST. EMILION  Price £ 295
W J Gardener ( 16.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2015-2030
Full colour and nose here, delicacy and and extra silkyness again, has the power and richness of a very fine wine, seemless power. Very fine Grand Mayne. Superb length.

GRAND PUY DUCASSE 5TH CRU PAUILLAC  Estimated Price £150+
W J Gardener ( 14.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2015-2030
Full colour attractive, the nose is jammy and bold, the palate is dense and chunky, as usual starts life quite aggressive in its structure but there is considerable concentration and depth. A very good wine at an affordable price.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 89-91 ) Drinking Dates : 2010-2020
This sleeper of the vintage is as stunning as Grand-Puy-Ducasse’s 2003. The deep purple-tinged 2005 possesses wonderful notes of sweet cherries, creme de cassis, smoke, creamy oak, and spice box. The sizeable tannins are well-concealed by the wine’s abundant glycerin, extract, and fruit. A beauty, it should be at its best between 2010-2020.

GRAND PUY LACOSTE 5TH CRU PAUILLAC Price £ 525
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 92-94 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2025
Following a period of mixed performances, Grand-Puy-Lacoste’s 2005 is their finest effort since 2000 and 1996. It offers a deep ruby/purple color in addition to a beautiful, pure bouquet of creme de cassis, full body, moderately high tannin, and good precision, freshness, weight, and richness. Like many of the classified growths, it is a candidate to shut down after bottling.

GRUAUD LAROSE 2ND CRU ST JULIEN   Price £ 395
W J Gardener ( 16.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2020-2035
Full plum lots of legs, very tight, big attack, unyielding palate. A bit rigid at present. The concentration is huge. A massive wine for long keeping.

HAUT BAGES LIBERAL 5TH CRU PAUILLAC   Estimated Price £160+
W J Gardener ( 16/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2015-2025
Good full colour, straight away this has an extra dimension over the lesser classed growths from Pauillac, the nose is delicious very cakey, the palate is cool and with a silky vibrance, lots of dense fruit finishing with a lovely overall fell. Excellent as usual this is one of my value picks.

HAUT BERGEY PESSAC LEOGNAN  Price £ 195
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 91-93 ) Drinking Dates : 2009-2026
Unquestionably the finest wine Haut-Bergey has produced since 2000, this deep purple-colored beauty is a classic example of Pessac-Leognan’s smoky, earthy style. Sweet red and black currant fruit, scorched earth, and a subtle burning ember/smoky character emerge from this ripe, full-bodied effort. With terrific fruit, good acidity, and high but ripe tannin, it should hit its peak in 3-5 years, and last for two decades. It is a blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

HAUT BRION 1ER CRU PESSAC LEOGNAN   Estimated Price £2500+
W J Gardener ( 19/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2020-2040
really, very deep, a powerhouse on the nose, hot and spicy with elegant feminine tones, crussed gravel and cassis, very silky weighty palate, seemingly higher acidity than the La Mission, very fresh and focused. The tannins are very ripe and spicy, vanilla on the finish, very long and complex wine, has a bit more umph than the La mission for me this year.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 96-100 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2040
The 2005 Haut-Brion is an extraordinarily broad, rich, full-bodied effort boasting huge aromas of scorched earth, plum sauce, sweet cherries, black currants, and a hint of toasty oak. The wine possesses huge tannins, which is somewhat deceptive given its viscosity and opulence. Despite its intensity, Haut-Brion is always a model of elegance and symmetry. The profound 2005, which will undoubtedly shut down after bottling, should be less seductive in its youth than either the 1989 or 1990, but it will be incredibly long-lived.

HAUT MARBUZET CRU BOURGEOIS ST. ESTEPHE Estimated Price £245+
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 90-92 ) Drinking Dates : 2009-2017
Proprietor Duboscq has achieved better integration of new oak over recent vintages, resulting in the most interesting Haut-Marbuzet since the 1990. The dark plum/purple-tinged 2005 exhibits a big, sweet, flamboyant bouquet of spice box, vanillin, black cherries, and currants. Medium to full-bodied and broad, with more acidity than usual as well as ripe tannin and impressive density, it should be at its peak between 2009-2017.

KIRWAN 3RD CRU MARGAUX   Price £ 325
W J Gardener ( 16.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2015-2025
This has an attractive nose, jammy red fruits, voluptuous palate, spicy, minty peppery finish, very concentrated and quite extracted, but all in balance. Very well made. Great value.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 93-95 ) Drinking Dates : 2014-2050
Here we go again! This extraordinary wine is the greatest Kirwan made since some of the estate’s historic offerings of the mid-1800s. An inky/black/purple color accompanies a gorgeous perfume of incense, creme de cassis, licorice, and subtle wood. It boasts thrilling levels of richness, full body, layers of concentration, high glycerin as well as tannin, and a fabulous 60-second finish. This compelling effort possesses 50 or more years of aging potential. Kudos to Sophie Schyler, the charming proprietress who gave such a graceful performance while under attack in the disingenuous movie Mondovino. The 2005 Kirwan will be at its finest between 2014-2050+.

LA BIENFAISANCE ST EMILION   Estimated Price £125+
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 92-94 ) Drinking Dates : 2009-2026
As are many 2005s, this is the finest wine yet produced at this property. La Bienfaisance’s clay and limestone soils have resulted in a black/purple-colored effort displaying superb aromas of melted licorice, espresso roast, black fruits, and spice. Rich and pure, with good acidity, plenty of definition, and a heady, layered, powerful mouthfeel as well as texture, it will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring, and drink well for 15-20 years.

LA CHAPELLE DE LA MISSION HAUT BRION   Estimated Price £260+
W J Gardener ( 16/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2025
Very deep colour, the nose full, meaty and earthy, with lovely spices, very soft and silky entrance, the fruit is expressive, good acidity ripe tannins, holds on well to the earthy finish, a full mouthfeel and a charming wine, will be lovely in only 5 years or so.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 90-92 ) Drinking Dates : 2006-2018
La Mission’s second wine, La Chapelle de la Mission, has become one of the better second wines of Bordeaux. The supple, exotic, seductive 2005 will provide immense pleasure during its first 10-12 years of life. Its deep plum/ruby/purple-tinged color is followed by sweet cassis fruit, scorched earth, and mineral characteristics.

LA CONSEILLANTE POMEROL Price £ 1050
W J Gardener ( 16/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2015-2035
Very attractive colour, more like burgundy than claret, lovely nose, ripe and raisiny, sherbety real class and distiction on the nose, as usual from this great estate. Very full silky and powerful on the palate. High toned, very fresh with lots of power and grip. I very lovely wine, very big for La conseillante.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 93-95 ) Drinking Dates : 2009-2034
The finest La Conseillante since 2000, the dense purple-colored 2005 displays notes of sweet raspberries, creamy vanilla ice cream, spice box, and cedar. With good fruit, depth, and a broad, savory attack as well as mid-palate, this medium-bodied, finesse-styled, elegant wine represents a synthesis in style between a grand cru red Burgundy and a top-notch Bordeaux. Give it 3-5 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 20-25.

LA COUSPAUDE GRAND CRU ST EMILION Estimated Price £300+
W J Gardener ( 16.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2020
This is very deep almost black, a cocktail of flavours evolving here, rich open silky wine. Concentrated lots of oak; an impressive effort.

LA CROIX DU BEAUCAILLOU (2ND WINE DUCRU BEAUCAILLOU)   Price £ 210
W J Gardener ( 15/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2010-2018
With Ducru making such a sensational wine in 2005, the Croix is offering very good value, a super wine with great texture and style.

LA CROIX DU CASSE POMEROL  Price £ 195
James Suckling / The Wine Spectator ( 89-91 ) Drinking Dates : 2025-2015
Full colour, horse hair with a rich plumminess on the nose, quite pronounced compared to some, nice cool silkiness here on the palate. Lots of tannin, concentrated, even quite extracted, a full impressive effort, nice length, very good.

LA CROIX DU GAY POMEROL  Price £ 230
W J Gardener ( 14/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2025
Very deep colour, strawberries on the nose jammy, a big mouthful, lots of tannin, round and substantial mid-palate. A bit burly but will be at least good.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 88-90 ) Drinking Dates : 2006-2021
This is one of the finest efforts to yet emerge from this estate located on the plateau of Pomerol. A combination of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, it tips the scales at nearly 14% alcohol. Exhibiting a deep ruby/purple hue as well as a sweet bouquet of loamy soil, blueberries, cherries, plums, and mocha, it possesses lovely ripeness, savory elegance, purity, and overall balance. Enjoy it over the next 15 years.

LA LAGUNE 3RD CRU LUDON  Estimated Price £265+
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 92-94 ) Drinking Dates : 2009-2031
Until now, my reference vintage for La Lagune has been 1982, with the 1990 running a close second. However, the 2005 has the potential to be the finest La Lagune I have ever tasted. Dense ruby/purple-colored with sweet, briery, mountain berry notes interwoven with flowers, cherries, pain grille, and spice, it is intense yet elegant with tremendous purity and precision. While always somewhat Burgundian in style, the 2005 possesses more muscle and power than usual. It should be drinkable in 3-4 years, and last for 25 or more. It is a brilliant effort from this chateau.

LA MISSION HAUT BRION PESSAC LEOGNAN   Price £ 4200
W J Gardener ( 18.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2020-2040
Very deep colour, very tight on the nose, spices, black fruits, very elegant. A massive mouthfeel, loads of seductive layers, well supported with admirable acidity and tannin, harmionious and decandent, only showing a glimpse of what is to come. A real;ly fine 2005
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 95-97 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2030
The deep ruby/purple-hued 2005 La Mission-Haut-Brion is the finest offering from this estate since the 2000, a vintage it resembles in power, muscle, and structure. A gorgeous perfume of creosote, blueberries, and black fruits is followed by powerful, full-bodied flavors with great purity as well as remarkable freshness. Already revealing a certain unctuosity and thickness, it should continue to put on weight and develop magnificently for 25-30+ years. La Mission’s staff believes it is more similar to the 1990 than 2000, but it is too early for me to agree or disagree. Nevertheless, this is a profound La Mission-Haut-Brion.

LA POINTE POMEROL   Estimated Price £180+
W J Gardener ( 14.5/20 ) Drinking Dates : 2012-2020
Looks attractive; nose is a little closed, silky with nice acidity on the palate, quite full and fat. Stylish and charming as you would expect from Pomerol. Good future here.
Robert Parker, The Advocate ( 88-90 ) Drinking Dates : 2006-2018
Undeniably the finest La Pointe I have ever tasted, this corpulent, fleshy, dark ruby/purple-tinged Pomerol exhibits sweet mocha and berry fruit, medium body, excellent purity, soft tannin, and low acidity (an anomaly for 2005). Drink it during its first 10-12 years of life.

LA TOUR BLANCHE 1ER CRU SAUTERNES Estimated Price £280
James Suckling / The Wine Spectator ( 95-100 )