2005 Wine

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...

Wine Spectator, 91 points: Has an impressive nose with wonderful aromas of currant toasty oak and flowers. Full-bodied with velvety tannins and a long caressing finish. There's lots of new wood in the aftertaste but also juicy fruit. The second...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: D'Arenberg's most famous wine is its flagship The Dead Arm Shiraz. The 2005 The Dead Arm Shiraz is sourced from ancient head-pruned vines. It was aged for 22 months in a mix of new and used French and American oak. It is...

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, 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.

James Halliday, 95 points: Rich, fleshy fruit in abundance, but not the least jammy; indeed, borders on outright elegance; good balance and structure.

Neal Martin's Wine Journal, 95 points: (93-95 points) More Merlot than usual (48 percent). Limpid purple garnet hue. Almost opaque. Just that gorgeous Margaux nose: violets, blackcurrant, just brilliant definition (and this is the second wine?) Blueberry...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: Tasted from an ex-château bottle at BI Wine & Spirits Calon-Segur dinner in London, the 2005 Calon Segur is on par with the wonderful 2000. The only real difference is that this needs more time in bottle. It has a...

Wine Spectator, 94 points: (92-94 points) Fabulous aromas of blackberry licorice and flowers. Wonderful nose. Full-bodied with racy tannins and a long finish. This is powerful and rich. This is very long and velvety. Gorgeous. The winemaker here...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 90 points: 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...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: Rated, no tasting note given. - Jay Miller

Wine Spectator, 93 points: Has loads of coffee blackberry and cigar box aromas turning to crushed blackberry. Full-bodied with big chewy tannins and an aftertaste of vanilla blackberry and espresso. Mouthpuckering. Very concentrated and structured...

Wine Spectator, 92 points: Dark in color with impressively rich aromas of blackberry cigar tobacco licorice and spice. Full-bodied with round velvety tannins and a long long finish. Very well done for this producer. Best after 2014. 3665 cases made.