A powerful, ripe, opulent Saint-Emilion, the 2005 Château Monbousquet sports a dense ruby/purple hue as well as a killer bouquet of red and black fruits, truffly earth, leather, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a round, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and despite all its fruit and texture, it stays balanced, graceful, and light on its feet. It’s a gorgeous Monbousquet that shows how well these can age. Drink bottles any time over the coming decade.

A beautiful effort from Monbousquet, this 2005 comes across to me as one of their strongest efforts, with notes of toasty oak, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit as well as some licorice, incense and flowers. Full-bodied and opulent, this is an amazing wine from a terroir on the so-called “wrong side” of St.-Emilion. Drink it over the next 15 or more years. It is an amazing performance. - Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Lots of oak and mocha still on the nose showing that it needs more time in the bottle however there is a ton of fruit swimming under that oak. Huge ripe raspberry aromas supported by darker black and red cherries. The flavors on the palate mirror the aromas well with an abundance of fruit under the toasty oak. Very big but the tannins are ripe soft and very engaging. I would give this another few years before it begins to show its true colors.