2005 Wine from France

Wine Spectator, 91 points: Aromas of mineral blackberry and licorice lead to a full body with lots of racy tannins and a long flavorful finish. There's plenty of character with a polished refined style yet tannic. Best after 2011. 9830 cases made...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 100 points: The 2005 La Mission Haut-Brion is pure perfection. It has an absolutely extraordinary nose of sweet blackberries, cassis and spring flowers with some underlying minerality, a full-bodied mouthfeel, gorgeously velvety...

Wine Enthusiast, 97 points: Power and elegance merge effortlessly in this superb wine. Its pure black currant fruit is tightly coiled supported by just the right amount of firm tannins. Great aging potential. A triumph. - R.V.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 100 points: The 2005 La Mission Haut-Brion is pure perfection. It has an absolutely extraordinary nose of sweet blackberries, cassis and spring flowers with some underlying minerality, a full-bodied mouthfeel, gorgeously velvety...

TheWineCellarInsider.com, 99 points: Sexy in its texture and boquet. The nose has this blackberry liqueur motif, with a great purity of fruit. The addition of spice box, cedar, tobacco and floral elements just increases the complexity. Silk and velvet...

Wine Enthusiast, 90 points: A full, firm, ripe wine that shows considerable style and richness. There are fine, dusty tannins, masking the full-bodied black fruits, licorice flavors, and a firm, smooth aftertaste.

jamessuckling.com, 97 points: This appears to be the synthesis of the fabulous 2001 and 2003. It shows wonderful aromas of botrytis spice, honey and citrus rind. Lots of fruit with a tropical fruit undertone of mango and papaya on the palate. Intense...

Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: This tastes of great Cabernet Sauvignon, with its black currant, cedar and herbs and fresh, juicy acidity. It is as fresh as it is rich, but it has a structure of dense tannins that balances the wine. This is one of the...

Vinous, 90 points: Saturated medium ruby. Superripe aromas of blackberry, violet and licorice. Deep, powerful and penetrating, with a real warmth to the black fruit and spice flavors and superb breadth for this bottling. Finishes long and...

Wine Spectator, 95 points: Dark purple in color. Offers pure fruit with crushed raspberry blackberry and dried flowers on the nose. Full-bodied with supersilky tannins that touch every inch of the palate. Long and racy with elegance and beauty...

TheWineCellarInsider.com, 97 points: Even in its adolescent years, it is hard not to find this thrilling to drink. Luscious, sensuous and concentrated, the tannins are ripe, the fruits combine freshness and purity and the finish just keeps on going. Drink...

Wine Spectator, 94 points: Plush, with velvety tannins that carry raspberry ganache, red licorice, molten chocolate and mulled spice notes. Nice hints of sandalwood, black tea and graphite fill out the finish, which just sails on. The velvety...