Chateau la Gaffeliere 2005

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The finest La Gaffeliere I have ever tasted, the prodigious 2005 boasts a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a flamboyant bouquet of lead pencil shavings, creme de cassis, blackberries, smoked meats, incense, and Asian spice. Fabulously deep and full-bodied as well as ethereal and exceptionally elegant for its explosive richness and intensity, its lightness of being reflects the vineyard’s sensational terroir. This succulent beauty appears to be approachable, but that belies some significant tannins. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2030+."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This is a vivid and juicy wine with great depth and finesse. Full body, chewy and beautiful. Tight and complex. Still needs time but sexy and beautiful. Stone and chalk. Exciting."

WEINWISSER: "Sattes, extrem dunkles Purpur mit schwarzen Reflexen. Im ersten Nasenansatz mit einer Konzentration wie noch nie, enorm tief, reife Kirschen, Veilchen, Cassis, frisch gehackte Kräuter und Minze. Trotz der massiven Konzentration sofort eine tolle Süsse im hyperkonzentrierten Extrakt zeigend, ausgeglichen, aber mit stützender und fordernder Adstringenz. Vom Potenzial her liegt noch ein Punkt mehr drin, aber immer wieder haben wir harte La Gaffelière erlebt, die in ihrer Jugend viel versprachen, dann ein Leben lang hart blieben."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Tight, but with air and extensive swirling, notes of boysenberry, blackberry and blue fruit, along with licorice, spice and minerals begin to show. Fat,concentrated and filled with juicy ripe, fruit, this plush, powerful wine ends with a blast of spicy, chocolate covered black raspberries.This wine needs at least another 5-7 years before everything comes together."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "A successful wine from Canon la Gaffelière. It is in a modern style with very polished edges of fruit, but the heart of the wine has a core of solid, dark, dry tannins. The wood gives spiciness, but it is the black, juicy fruits that impress."

WINE SPECTATOR: "The mix of loganberry, black currant and black cherry fruit has begun to shift into a secondary phase here, but there is still ample vibrancy, with a racy mineral streak and lively anise, apple wood and floral notes. The long, refined finish is still a touch tight. On the verge of hitting its stride.—Blind '01/'03/'05 Bordeaux retrospective (December 2017). Best from 2020 through 2035. 5,750 cases made."