91+ Tasted single blind at Southwold. This is a little simplistic on the nose with a touch of the old blackcurrant wine gums but fresh and lively. The palate has some dryness: austere and backward with compressed dusty...

Purple to the rim, the 2005 Faugères is a powerhouse at 14.5% alcohol, with notes of graphite, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, licorice and truffle. Some incense also makes an appearance in this full-bodied...

This is opulent, but with restraint. The fruit is rich, black and delicious. Touches of spice and wood are present, lending complexity to the ripe fruits and balanced tannins. Impressive. ROGER VOSS

(92-94 points) Very opulent, generous and rich. It shows all the glories of the vintage, with huge but sufficiently restrained fruit, and exuberant tannins. ROGER VOSS

Wow. This really shows wonderful depth and complexity on the nose with blueberries, fresh flowers and hints of stones. It’s full-bodied, with ultra-refined tannins and a long, long finish. Gets better and better with age:...

This is a beautiful Giscours with tension and finesse. It's full-bodied and shows plenty of berry and spice character, not to mention a long, silky-textured finish. It seduces you with each sip. Why wait?

The 2005 Troplong Mondot is a blend of 90% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. It was emotional tasting this wine, thinking of the late Christine Valette, who made this compelling wine while battling with considerable...

A sleeper of the vintage as well as the finest wine I have yet tasted from this estate, Lalande-Borie is made by Ducru Beaucaillou’s proprietor, Bruno Borie. He has turned out a graceful, charming, seductive St.-Julien...

The 2005 from Cheval Blanc is a quintessentially elegant, beautiful, deep bluish/ruby-colored wine from St.-Emilion, with raspberry, blueberry, and floral notes, impressive density, great precision, freshness and purity...

One of the clear standouts in the vintage, the Feraud’s 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee (which includes a splash of Grenache Blanc in the blend) offers both stunning aromatic complexity paired with a voluptuous...

The 2005 Angelus is as good as it gets, and despite having 2-3 decades of prime drinking ahead of it, is as profound a drinking experience as money can buy even today. Offering off the hook notes of blackcurrants, smoked...

A wonderfully balanced vintage, now limbering up to drink. Effortless and enjoyable, not as much depth as some 2005 St Juliens, nor in more recent (post 2009) vintages of Beychevelle, but it has classic appellation...

Wild strawberries on the nose, this has high aromatics, gentle toast and cigar box, blond tobacco, undergrowth, the beginning of tertiary, extremely elegant, fine, and classic Armailhac at the time. Almost feels like we...

Wild strawberries on the nose, this has high aromatics, gentle toast and cigar box, blond tobacco, undergrowth, the beginning of tertiary, extremely elegant, fine, and classic Armailhac at the time. Almost feels like we...

Medium garnet-brick colored, the 2005 Ancient Way Vineyard Summer's Vineyard gives up stewed tea, tobacco and tilled earth scents over a core of plum preserves, mincemeat pie, cherry cordial and chocolate box plus touches...

Still a remnant of toasted oak on the nose, and the overall power even at 17 years on is striking. Good fleshy fruit, this clamps up on the finish suggesting that the tannins are still very much in action. It's broad...

Ruby red, this remains closed on the nose, and the tannic structure is still tight at 17 years old, proof that 2005 retains its ability to frustrate, but the hints of mature notes are finally becoming clear. So much...

The 2005 Grenache Romas Vineyard delivers more complexity than the Onkaparinga both aromatically and on the palate. An enticing perfume of damp earth truffle clove black cherry and blackberry is followed by a full-bodied...

A very complex nose of lavender, currants, spices, and hot stones. Full and dense on the palate, with a very tight structure. The tannins have a perfect polish to their density, and the finish is very intense, with...

Enticing ruby red body, with aromatics that show a touch of orange zest and turmeric spice. The fruit is creamy, intense, a brilliant Palmer that has finesse and balance but a serious kick. Black pepper, cinammon...

The 2005 La Bienfaisance is a rich, concentrated wine with loads of blackcurrant and black cherry fruit along with some earthiness and subtle background oak. It is medium to full-bodied, ripe, and extremely well-made in a...