Bonnes Mares, Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé 2005

An even riper but not surmature nose that is less elegant and aromatically complex, at least at present, features brooding aromas of black and blue berry plus black cherry and violets nuanced by hints of spice and warm earth merge into big, powerful and well-muscled flavors underpinned by impressive mid-palate concentration and dense but fine tannins, all wrapped in a dazzling long finish that is perfectly balanced. This will clearly require time to unfold but the raw material is indisputably here and like the Musigny, this is built for the very long haul

The 2005 Bonnes Mares marries black and red raspberries with fresh- sorbet- and liquer-like aspects alternating on a quite refined, polished, and (for this cru) seemingly less-savage than usual palate. Myriad herbs and spices mingle with the fruit and suggestions of wood smoke, horehound and sassafras emerge along with the sweet raspberries in a lingering finish that administers a considerable lashing of fine tannin and displays a sappy, resinous, faintly peppery cling.