| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Kudos to proprietress Sophie Porquet, who also makes the sensational Cotes de Castillon, Joanin-Becot. From this 35-acre vineyard she has fashioned a sensational blend of 70% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Her finest effort since taking over this property in 1999, the 2005 boasts a saturated purple color followed by notes of ripe blackberries, black currants, licorice, incense, chocolate, and espresso. Thick, highly-extracted flavors nearly obscure the elevated tannins. This big, serious, rich claret is meant to last for three decades or more. A great wine for the vintage, it is also a sleeper of the vintage given the fact that this estate remains under most consumer’s radar. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+.
We were not terribly impressed by this wine which we found rather over-oaked and atypical of Saint Emilion. It seems that most of the critics agree with us except for Robert Parker. This is clearly "his kind of thing" and he rates it very highly so who are we to argue with the world's greatest wine critic?
Nose on the reductive side (blackcurrants), big spicy wine lacking finesse but fleshy enough for a secure ageing. Winter-time Saint-Emilion. Drink from 2013
Sophie Porquet, the same woman who makes the fabulous Joanin-Becot in the Cotes de Castillon, has run this property since 1999. A 35-acre vineyard situated on limestone and sandy/clay soils, it is generally a blend of 70% Merlot and equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The blockbuster 2005, which tastes even better than it did last year, boasts an opaque purple color as well as aromas and flavors of chocolate, espresso roast, melted licorice, and blackberry liqueur. Huge muscle, richness, power, and fruit, a terrific, multilayered texture, and a long, tannic finish are accompanied by a natural alcohol of 14% plus. The dry extract figures are almost off the charts. Give it 5-6 years of bottle age, and consume it over the following 25-30 years. It is a sleeper of the vintage.
A fabulous effort, this deep, dense ruby/purple-tinged 2005 roars out of the glass like a runaway locomotive. Its technical numbers are nearly off the charts by Bordeaux standards. Although it reveals incredibly high levels of tannin as well as 14+% alcohol, it possesses the vintage’s characteristic freshness and liveliness. Loads of black fruits, spice box, cedar, and pain grille notes emerge from this structured blockbuster. It will benefit from 5-6 years of cellaring, and should last for 15-20 years.
Lots of wood, so not that easy to taste. But full and fruity. Shows potential. But not convinced
