La Romanée, Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair 2005

There is enough reduction present to knock down the spice and fruit aspects of the otherwise notably ripe nose. There is positively superb density to the velvety, powerful and broad-shouldered medium full-bodied flavors that are seductively textured though the explosively long and almost painfully intense finish tightens up in a real rush. This is bold and robust vintage for La Romanée that isn't even remotely ready and one that will last for decades but the incredible potential is evident.

As good as the Reignots is, it's immediately clear that this is at another level with its positively kaleidoscopic and utterly knockout nose featuring exuberant Vosne-style spicy black fruit and a panoply of underlying nuances including anise, clove, minerals, underbrush, warm earth and smoke introduce much more reserved, even cool medium full flavors that are like silk on the palate though the hugely long finish tightens up in a real rush. This is really quite fine and less youthfully austere than it usually is at this early stage. This is also a stunner of a wine with that wonderful character of inner mouth perfume that the great wines always have plus it's built for the long haul.