Another “best ever” performance, the Grand-Puy-Ducasse is made in a charming style for a 2005 Pauillac. This deep ruby-hued, very concentrated, precocious, showy effort displays copious quantities of sweet oak intermixed with black cherries, black currants, velvety tannins, medium body, and loads of fruit. It can be drunk now or cellared for 15-20 years
Some berry and cherry character. Medium- to full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a medium finish.
Tasted blind. Dark purplish crimson. Fresh nose. Lots of sweet Cabernet fruit. Relatively light tannins. Crisp finish.
Drink 2015-2024
Concentrated colour and fruit, intense cassis and good plummy impression, quite forward style. Drink 2009-18.
Rich, ripe, concentrated. Well-extracted fruit, already elegant. Very good impression of pure ripeness and no exaggeration, quite tight and firm. Very good potential. Drink from 2016. Awarded 4 stars.
Although slightly less impressive than it was last year, this charming, precociously styled effort is still a sleeper of the vintage. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a sweet bouquet of creamy oak, black cherries, and black currants, supple tannins, and a ripe, heady finish. It should drink well for 15+ years.
This sleeper of the vintage is as stunning as Grand-Puy-Ducasse’s 2003. The deep purple-tinged 2005 possesses wonderful notes of sweet cherries, creme de cassis, smoke, creamy oak, and spice box. The sizeable tannins are well-concealed by the wine’s abundant glycerin, extract, and fruit. A beauty, it should be at its best between 2010-2020.
Deep crimson. Lovely warm intensity. Lots of lift. Perhaps a touch of overripeness? But quite fresh on the palate - gouleyant (almost juicy) and oddly forward. There is lots of fine tannin on the finish but masses of charming fruit on the front palate. Just a slightly raw note too… Drink 2015-25
