The 2005 vintage in Burgundy has been described as one of the greatest red wine vintage for a generation.
According to Janis Robinson there is one dominant characteristic of the 2005 vintage: their thrilling combination of ripeness and acidity. Robinson reports that “the fruit really does taste as refreshing as a sorbet” and describes the vintage as having “both the freshness of a cool vintage and the richness and texture more reminiscent of an overripe vintage”. Toronto Vintners tasted 8 wines from this fabulous vintage of January 21st, 2014. Our guest speaker for the evening was Stephen Campbell, President of Lifford Wine.
HOW THE WINES RANKED
THE WINES
2005 Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru Chaillots, Domaine Louis Latour $69 “The 2005 Aloxe Corton Les Chaillots – from Latour’s holdings just below their Corton and among the last-harvested of these 2005s – displays a nose of toasted hickory, almond and cherries with their pits. Deceptively light in color, it nevertheless exhibits real grip, satisfying bitter-sweet fruit, and chalky minerality.” 87pts. David Schildknecht, erobertparker.com, Apr. 2007.
2005 Beaune 1er Cru, Clos de Couchereaux, Domaine Louis Jadot $49 “The 2005 Beaune Clos des Couchereaux smells fascinatingly of lavender, black tea, dried cherry and red licorice. Dried cherry and cherry pit flavors dominate on the firm, well-concentrated palate. A bitter-sweet herbal pungency joins the tea, dried fruit and licorice in a finish that is long but at least for now slightly awkwardly marked by its tannin.” 87-89pts. David Schildknecht, erobertparker.com, Apr. 2007.
2005 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers, Domaine Louis Jadot $89 “Les Sentiers is a very elegant wine, very typical of this appellation. It shows aromas of morello cherry, violet and pepper. It is full and very dense with delicate tanins.” Will keep 10-15 years. Source: wine producer’s website.
2005 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Evocelles, Domaine de la Vourgeraie $64 “Deep colour; perfumed violety nose with a fair amount of oak still showing. Chunky, but fresh fruit on the palate. Impressive rather than seductive at this stage, but the elements are all there for a useful long life. 2010-17. Score: 4 Stars. Decanter — 6/1/2007 Source: www.boissetfamilyestates.com/reviews/
2005 Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos des Porrets St. Georges, Domaine Henri Gouges $73 “The 2005 Nuits-St.-Georges Clos des Porrets St.-Georges – a roughly nine acre Gouges monopole in Premeaux-Prissey – offers a meld of tart and lightly cooked cherry, abundant tannins conducive to a somewhat furry mouth feel, and a smoky, roasted meat, cooked cherry and cherry pit finish. There is no question about this wine’s overall density, nor its intensity of ripe fruit. Similarly, I have little doubt it is showing the roughed-up effects of having been bottled only a week before I tasted.” 89+ pts. David Schildknecht, erobertparker.com, Apr. 2007.
2005 Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru, Les St. Georges, Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair $131 “Burghound calls this Outstanding!, and writes: "This is primary to the point of being overtly grapey with an interesting mix of intense earth and game nuances that merge into solidly structured middle weight flavors that possess outstanding length and real depth. As good as the Petits Monts is, there is another dimension here." (Burghound, 01/07) Decanter gives this 5 stars, and writes: "Lush, smoky nose, toasty oak, black cherries and mocha. Very rich, sumptuous, creamy. New world opulence but irresistible fruit, structured too. Gorgeous fruit and very good length. From 2012." Wine Spectator: 90/100. Burghound 90-93. Source: www.klwines.com/
2005 Monthélie 1er Cru Les Duresses, Domaine Paul Garaudet $65 Monthélie wine is produced in the commune of Monthelie in Côte de Beaune of Burgundy. The best wines come from the steep slopes above the village, such as Les Duresses. “The Paul Garaudet wine estate produces authentic wines in the tradition of the great Burgundy wines. The wines are elaborated in the purest tradition in order to respect the fruit.” Source: www.paulgaraudet.com/
2005 Vosne-Romanee, Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Nicholas Potel $66 "An expressive nose jumps from the glass to reveal spice, floral and sexy dark berry fruit aromas that are rich, full, intense and powerful. This is a big wine for a villages with good extract and ample phenolic maturity and while this isn't overly elegant, it's clearly a wine of quality, particularly for its level." 88-91 points and an Outstanding designate, Allen Meadows' Burghound. (01/07) Source: www.klwines.com/
