Clos de Sarpe 2005

Clearly a wine made for future generations, Clos de Sarpe, with its tendency for tiny yields of under 25 hectoliters per hectare, has fashioned a 1,000 case blend of 85% Merlot and the rest old vine Cabernet Franc. Over recent vintages, this wine has been among the most concentrated and formidably tannic and backward made in Bordeaux. A claret for those with 19th century tastes, it offers good purity, ripe tannin, and an extraordinary display of concentration, extract, power, and tannic clout. The 2005 is a mammoth yet incredibly well-balanced St.-Emilion that represents an anomaly in modern day winemaking. It is a pleasure to see a proprietor push the envelope and create a wine that will be appreciated for 40-50 years. Classic sweet black cherry, licorice, roasted herb, and underbrush characteristics are present in this formidable, full-bodied, powerful wine. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2050

Intense aromas of blackberry with dark chocolate. Medium- to full-bodied, with good fruit and a medium finish. Slightly hollow midpalate. Could move up a notch

Cropped at 25 hectoliters per hectare, this 1,000-case blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc is fashioned from 65-year-old vines, and is among the most concentrated wines of Bordeaux. Akin to wines produced in the late 19th century, the black/purple-hued 2005 boasts remarkable intensity, power, concentration, and tannin. The 55-day maceration, 14% alcohol, and layers of fruit and glycerin result in a formidable claret that should not be approached before 2015. This colossal-sized, incredibly pure, well-balanced St.-Emilion appears set for 40-50 years of evolution. It is an exquisite anomaly in terms of modern day winemaking!

This is a wine for readers with incredibly long life-expectancies as it possesses the power and longevity associated with many pre-phylloxera, 19th century wines of Bordeaux. Like so many of the small St.-Emilion estates, there are no compromises at Clos de Sarpe. The 2005 was hand-harvested from yields of 25 hectoliters per hectare, given a 55-day maceration, and aged in a combination of new wood. It will be bottled unfiltered. The wine achieved 14+% alcohol naturally. This opaque purple-colored, massive, ferociously tannic offering reveals scary concentration levels, huge dry extract, and technical numbers that are off the charts. Despite its impressive credentials, size, richness, and overall balance, it will close down after bottling, and re-emerge 10-15 years later. My conservative guess is that this gigantic, colossal St.-Emilion will be drinkable around 2015-2020, and last for 40-50 years.