Ripe and forward in its mix of cherries and currants, and filled out with rich oak, hints of coffee and a light touch of root-beer-like sweetness, this bottling is fairly seductive at the start, but its generous fruit and supple texture both give ground to plenty of youthfully tough tannins on the latter palate. As oversized as its tannins may seem now, they never push fruit from centerstage, and the wine has enough of the right stuff to develop for ten to twenty years.

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. -Wine Advocate 89-91

Full bright ruby. Cool aromas of blackberry, kirsch, licorice and fresh herbs; slightly inky. Moderately dense and juicy, with medicinal black cherry and herbal flavors that are a bit dominated by the wine's structure today. Finishes with reasonably ripe tannins and good length, but shows a hint of dryness.

@hartswijn, bet. 2010-2020

Fantastic, smooth

from eric