Decanter (December 08) - Juicy, ripe red-black friut, with spicy vanilla hints and real Graves perfume. Lovely ripe fruit - quite intense and rich tannin. Supple and long with a sumptuous finish. *****

Jancis Robinson - Very lively nose with lots of richness underneath. Fine sandy tannins. Very zesty with some quite obvious sweetness. Lots of punch. Drink 2016-26.

Robert Parker - I know it sounds like a broken record, but this may be the best Smith-Haut-Lafitte ever made. A prodigious effort, the 2005 boasts an inky/blue/purple color, sweet aromas of graphite, white chocolate, espresso, and blue, red, and black fruits, extraordinary density, moderately high tannin, medium body, fabulous layers, and an enticing texture. However, it comes across as delicate and fresh because of its acidity. This ageworthy Graves should last for 25-30+ years.

Wine Spectator - A wine with blackberry and smoky wood. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long finish. Delicious already. Could be best ever. Balanced and long. Gorgeous. Almost classic quality.

100% Pinot Noir

Jancis Robinson  - Very dark crimson. Broad and opulent on the nose – scented. Fresh and relatively simple. A little green note? Neat and compact but not as dense as some. Certainly a ripe vintage with dry tannins and representative of 2005, but correct rather than a wow wine. Very competent and well balanced. Finishes quite suddenly. (I tasted the 2004 alongside and was most impressed by its vivacity and depth. It could be even better than the 2005!) More obvious sweetness than the 2004. Drink 2012-25.

Robert Parker  - Only 50% of the production made it into this blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. The Merlot harvest began on September 20, and the Cabernet Sauvignon was brought in in early October. Deep ruby-hued with purple highlights, the lighter-styled 2005 Pichon-Lalande (reminiscent of Pinot Noir) is a racy, elegant, finesse-filled Pauillac without the power, flesh, and substance of previous vintages. Its delicacy and vibrancy have resulted in a singularly styled effort for this impeccably run estate. I would not be surprised to see the 2005 put on more weight after 4-5 years of bottle age; it should keep for two decades.

Wine Spectator - Love the aromas here of currants, licorice, exotic fruit, and berries. Complex. Full and silky, with gorgeous tannins. This is really long and reserved. Very close to 95-100. I will see in bottle.

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Previously known as Chateau St Brice.

The young vines of Chateau Magdelaine.

90% Merlot

100% Grenache

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Jancis Robinson - Mid crimson. Vigorous nose. Very solid and quite inky. Smooth, well made. A solid block just like Cos. Should not disappoint – eventually. Pretty austere. Quite deep crimson. Frank, direct, nose, very solid. Lovely opulence on the front palate. Satin texture and good ripe tannins, just lacks a little attack on the back of the palate but very worthy. Solid and should age well but may never escape on to a higher plane of pleasure. Drink 2016-26.

Robert Parker - Space limitations did not allow complete tasting notes for this Cru Bourgeois, but 2005 is the finest vintage for these wines since 1982. The range of scores for these wines should give readers an idea of just how consistent this vintage is at this level. Given the style of the vintage, most of these wines should be accessible young yet evolve for a decade or more because of their concentration and tannic structure.

Wine Spectator - Velvety-textured red with berry, currant and light spice. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a long finish. Builds on the palate. Not sure it’s on the same level as 2003 though.

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Christian Moueix's personal property

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The first vintage of this the second wine of Chateau Pavie.

"I love the purity of fruit in this wine, showing perfectly ripe blackberry, blueberry and raspberry on the nose. Complex and full bodied, with hints of new oak and wonderfully polished tannins that caress the palate. Has a long, long finish. This is not the blockbuster it was from barrel, but rather a complete, balanced, gorgeous red.  100pt," J.Suckling

"In many respects, the 2002 may be even more impressive than the 2003. A far more challenging vintage to get everything right, and especially in St.-Emilion, where many disappointments have been produced, this is one of the wines of the vintage. It possesses a deep purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of creme de cassis, blackberries, wet stones, and wonderfully perfumed floral notes. When the wine hits the palate, it exhibits impressive purity, medium to full body, a multi-layered texture, and extraordinary precision and intensity with a finish just short of 50 seconds. "