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
16.5
/20
Red
Chocolatey dark fruit, a little savoury and spiced. Lighter than expected on the palate. Harmonious, fresh and full of pleasure. (JH)
Drink:
2010
–
2015
Red
Lots of pencil lead and leafy notes. But not dry on the palate. Fresh and leafy but still has good fruit and a fine grip. (JH)
Drink:
2011
–
2017
15
/20
Red
Savoury and slightly spiced with dark meaty beginnings. Dry fine grip, quite fragrant on the mid palate compared with the nose. Tannins only just ripe on the finish. (JH)
Drink:
2012
–
2018
16.5
/20
Red
Restrained, a little fragrant, dusty and slightly leafy dark fruit. More depth on the palate than expected. Very fresh and fruit still fresh. Tannins still gripping but smooth and chocolate textured. Juicy and finely balanced. Good length. (JH)
Drink:
2010
–
2019
16
/20
Red
Bright cassis and just a little leafy. Hint of sweet dark meatiness developing. Thick pile tannins, fresh and muscular. (JH)
Drink:
2013
–
2018
15.5
/20
Red
Very herbaceous nose, verging on green. Not green on the palate but very very leafy and surprising for this vintage. (JH)
Drink:
2011
–
2017
Red
Light, dusty damson fruit. Nicely structured and just enough flesh. Acidity quite marked but not uncomfortable. Tight and zesty. (JH)
Drink:
2011
–
2018
16.5
/20
Red
Fragrant, lightly floral dark fruit. Dusty. Tannins a little tough but there's nicely scented dark fruit on the mid palate. Finishes a bit dry but there's more to come. Really quite dense and long. (JH)
Drink:
2012
–
2019
Red
Lightly perfumed and spicy, with some dark plum fruit on the nose but really pretty restrained. Elegant and rounded. A nice whole and quite approachable – long and fine tannins though the wine is well structured for the longer term. (JH)
Drink:
2012
–
2022
Red
Fresh and expressive – bright clean fruit. Much more chocolatey on the palate. Rounded and whole with fresh dark fruit at the end and attractive fruit sweetness. (JH)
Drink:
2010
–
2015
16
/20
Red
Restrained dark fruit then surprisingly soft and rounded on the palate. Well balanced and a fine fresh finish. (JH)
Drink:
2012
–
2018
15.5
/20
Red
Markedly floral over dark sweet fruit. A bit disappointing on the palate – less fragrant. Fresh but not a great deal of depth. Finishes a bit short. (JH)
Drink:
2011
–
2015
15.5
/20
Red
Lively and fresh on the nose but rather an abrupt grip on the palate. Tannins not tough but seem to arrest the progress of the wine to the back palate. But there's nice fruit behind that. (JH)
Drink:
2011
–
2017
16
/20
Red
Strong coffee notes over ripe dark fruit. Chocolate-smooth and thick texture though still with quite a grip. A bit abrupt, perhaps. (JH)
Drink:
2011
–
2018
Red
Fragrant cassis and cassis leaf and a sweetness of damson. Firm but so smooth. Lovely dense but fine fruit and fine-fruited perfume right across the palate. Long, rich and harmonious. Very good length and depth but still elegant and beautifully fresh. (JH)
Drink:
2012
–
2025
15
/20
Red
Dark and a little brooding. Held back. A bit drying on the palate. Rather forbidding. Dusty finish. (JH)
Drink:
2012
–
2015
RIGHT BANK
Red
Fine perfume, becoming more meaty. Really moreish, dry and quite firm. Perhaps a little more structure than fruit. (JH)
Drink:
2014
–
2018
15.5
/20
Red
Smells very youthful: sweet fruit and toasty oak. Thick but smooth grip, fruit a little subdued compared with the nose. Dry but not drying finish. Could do with a little more flesh in the middle. (JH)
Drink:
2012
–
2018
Red
Distinctive nose – some cough linctus but quite bright cassis fruit. Fine fruit depth, quite rich but not fat. Meaty aftertaste and rich fruit at the very end. Dense and smooth. (JH)
Drink:
2013
–
2022
15.5
/20
Red
Light herbal, even lavender note, a little leathery on the nose and palate. Dry and fine-grained tannins. Quite restrained and a bit dry at the very end. (JH)
Drink:
2012
–
2017
15.5
/20
Red
Perfumed and very ripe but not overripe dark fruit assails you from the glass. Ripe damson. Then surprisingly dry on the palate and much less expressive. Finishes a bit hard. (JH)
Drink:
2012
–
2017
16
/20
Red
Sweet oak-spiced fruit. Still a little toasty and still fresh. Firm but succulent and marked mocha flavour and chocolate texture on the palate. A deep cushion of flavour. Lots of pleasure. (JH)
Drink:
2012
–
2019
Red
Rich, spicy dark fruit. Smooth, rounded, harmonious. Not terribly exciting. (JH)
Drink:
2012
–
2018
Red
Leafy fresh dark fruit. Classic claret nose. Touch of cedar. Fine-grained, hovering between light and elegant, dry tense finish. (JH)
Drink:
2012
–
2018
14.5
/20
Red
Slight green note at first on the nose. Then dry and a bit green on the palate. (JH)
Drink:
2012
–
2017
17.5
/20
Red
Pure, intense black fruit. Rich aromas with a hint of vanilla and violets. Succulent and moreish – tannins are rich and ripe and upright but very come-hither. Delicious. (JH)
Drink:
2012
–
2025
Red
Fresh but a little green on the nose. Also a bit green and hard on the palate. I'd expect better fruit in a 2005. Dry finish. (JH)
Drink:
2012
–
2016
