Amazingly, there were still a few gaps in the 200 bordeaux 2005s I re-tasted in bottle last January and on which I reported in the Southwold tasting articles. Accordingly, Julia took advantage of last week's tasting of 2005 bordeaux organised by the Institute of Masters of Wine in London to plug those gaps and bring you the following tasting notes, left bank first, then right bank. Please note that these wines were not tasted blind. JR
LEFT BANK
Chocolatey dark fruit, a little savoury and spiced. Lighter than...
Lots of pencil lead and leafy notes. But not dry on the palate...
Savoury and slightly spiced with dark meaty beginnings. Dry fine...
Restrained, a little fragrant, dusty and slightly leafy dark...
Bright cassis and just a little leafy. Hint of sweet dark...
Very herbaceous nose, verging on green. Not green on the palate...
Light, dusty damson fruit. Nicely structured and just enough...
Fragrant, lightly floral dark fruit. Dusty. Tannins a little...
Lightly perfumed and spicy, with some dark plum fruit on the...
Fresh and expressive – bright clean fruit. Much more chocolatey...
Restrained dark fruit then surprisingly soft and rounded on the...
Markedly floral over dark sweet fruit. A bit disappointing on...
Lively and fresh on the nose but rather an abrupt grip on the...
Strong coffee notes over ripe dark fruit. Chocolate-smooth and...
Fragrant cassis and cassis leaf and a sweetness of damson. Firm...
Dark and a little brooding. Held back. A bit drying on the...
RIGHT BANK
Fine perfume, becoming more meaty. Really moreish, dry and quite...
Smells very youthful: sweet fruit and toasty oak. Thick but...
Distinctive nose – some cough linctus but quite bright cassis...
Light herbal, even lavender note, a little leathery on the nose...
Perfumed and very ripe but not overripe dark fruit assails you...
Sweet oak-spiced fruit. Still a little toasty and still fresh...
Rich, spicy dark fruit. Smooth, rounded, harmonious. Not...
Leafy fresh dark fruit. Classic claret nose. Touch of cedar...
Slight green note at first on the nose. Then dry and a bit green...
Pure, intense black fruit. Rich aromas with a hint of vanilla...
Fresh but a little green on the nose. Also a bit green and hard...
