It was love at first sight and the promising charm of Chateau Haut-Bergey that led Sylviane Garcin-Cathiard, granddaughter of a wine merchant and a successful business woman, to acquire and renovate this 28.5-hectare property in the heart of Leognan, a leading area of the Graves region. The estate’s foremost principle is to produce a wine of excellent quality, sparing no efforts to continuously improve craftsmanship and expertise.

The vineyard of comprises 26.5 hectares of red grapes and 2 hectares of white grapes. It is well exposed to the south and south-west on slightly sloping grounds, ensuring natural drainage. During summertime and especially in September, the gravel topsoil reflects absorbed heat onto the bunches of grapes, thus improving the process of ripening. The subsoil, which influences the deep-rooted vines, is composed of clay and chalk streaked with iron-bearing parts.

Grapes for Haut-Bergey's red are hand picked and transported in small boxes. The winemaking is traditional, with every parcel vinified separately in stainless steel tanks. The wine is aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 16 to 18 months. The blend ranges from 54% to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, the rest being Merlot. Haut-Bergey is medium-bodied and ages well for 8-15 years, depending on the vintage.

The 2005 Haut Bergey is a Bordeaux blend from the Pessac-Leognan sub-region in Bordeaux, France. This red wine, produced by Haut Bergey, is cork-sealed and has an alcohol content of 13.0%. It has received varied but generally positive reviews from several wine critics.

Jeff Loo of JJ Buckley rated the wine an 89, describing it as "dark ruby at the core with little variation towards the rim." Loo notes the nose opens with aromas of "sweet plum, grilled beef, tobacco, and smoke," framed by cassis and crushed rocks. On the palate, it is lengthy and rich with flavors of "vanilla, raspberry, and lavender," full-bodied with plenty of tannins and a mid-palate showcasing "wonderful acidity" that lingers alongside flavors of "mocha and espresso." Loo suggests the wine is built for the cellar and can be enjoyed now or aged for another 3-5 years.

Tracey Rose from JJ Buckley provided an excellent review, scoring the wine 93 points. She describes the wine as "delightfully aged" with a "plummy mauve hue" and a rich, aromatic nose. The palate reveals "plum, blackcurrant, gravel, and ash," with a plush texture and bright acidity, indicating it is "hitting its peak for enjoyment." Rose notes that the "fine tannin on the finish" suggests a long drinking window ahead, calling it a "classic Graves that leaves you wanting more."

Wine Spectator's review, scored at 91, highlights aromas of "mineral, blackberry, and licorice" leading to a full body with "lots of racy tannins and a long flavorful finish." The publication describes the wine as having "plenty of character with a polished refined style yet tannic," recommending it be best enjoyed after 2011.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also gave the wine a 90, with Robert M. Parker, Jr. noting flavors of "charcoal, espresso roast, blackcurrants, and spice." He describes it as "medium-bodied, nicely concentrated, relatively evolved, and precocious," with soft tannins and an attractive plushness, capable of drinking well for another decade or more.

Neal Martin's Wine Journal rated the wine 91+ and described it as "a little simplistic on the nose with a touch of the old blackcurrant wine gums but fresh and lively." Martin notes the palate has some dryness and is "austere and backward with compressed dusty black fruit, with liquorice and sous-bois on the finish," predicting it will age beautifully.

John Gilman from View From The Cellar gave the wine a 90, calling it "one of the best wines made in the region of Pessac-Léognan" from the 2005 vintage. He describes the bouquet as "deep, pure, and classic," with cherries, red plums, tobacco, and Graves soil tones. Gilman praises the wine's "intensity of flavor, ripe tannins, and good length and grip on the classically shaped finish."

Lastly, Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com also rated the wine 90, describing it as displaying "a lightness in color" with mature, soft dark berries and a perfume of "earth, cherries, espresso, and fresh herbs" that feel round and soft in the berry-filled finish. Leve suggests it is not a wine to hold for further aging.

Overall, the 2005 Haut Bergey is a well-regarded Bordeaux blend with a range of complex flavors and a promising aging potential.