I did not have a note on the 2005 Magdelaine in the original article on the estate, as the then newly released wine had not crossed my path at the time the issue was released. Not surprisingly, like so many of the top wines from this vintage, the ’05 Magdelaine is totally shut down right now, and very reluctantly offers up a glimmer of its aromatic profile to come in a blend of black cherries and plummy fruit, cigar ash, a touch of tariness, a lovely signature of soil and nutty new wood in reasonable doses. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, close and rock solid at the core, with ripe tannins, excellent acidity and a very, very long, intense and adolescent finish. The length and grip here are excellent and I am sure this will be an outstanding Magdelaine in the fullness of time, but given how shut down the wine is today, it may well prove that when this wine comes up for air a decade from now, my score will prove to be quite conservative.

93+ From the stable of Jean-Pierre Moueix, this estate has now been absorbed by the nearby Belair (renamed Belair-Monange). Exhibiting gorgeous kirsch liqueur notes with some plum and Asian spice and dense ruby/garnet to the rim, this 2005 is full-bodied, rich, and bigger and more masculine than this wine tends to be. It is a beauty, with loads of fruit, great purity and texture. Drink it over the next 20-25 years. - Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The Château Magdelaine 2005 has a slightly muffled bouquet compared to the Canon-la-Gaffelière, although it gradually gains a little more delineation with scents of dark plum, mulberry, overripe Satsumas and sous-bois. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, quite thickly layered for a Saint Emilion that usually is more elegant in style, though it is packed full of flavour with Provençal herbs infusing the sensual black and red fruit. Afford this 4 or 5 more years to fully get into its stride.