One of the most memorable bottlings of our tastings of the 2005 Bordeaux, this wonderfully extracted effort captures all of the complexity and very deep curranty fruit for which the Pauillac appellation is justly revered, and it does so with a remarkable sense of balance and keen composition. It is clearly not one for the impatient, and its ample tannin requires upward of a decade before taming comes, but there are no questions at all about the depth of its fruity substance and its admirable stuffing or about its extremely promising future.

Dark red-ruby. Multidimensional nose offers deep aromas of currant, cedar, coffee, tobacco and minerals. The palate offers a rare combination of sweetness, energy and depth, with superb grip and a layered texture to the flavors of plum, cedar, tobacco and minerals. The finish features sweet, noble tannins and outstanding length. I find this more complete and ultimately more exciting than the 2003, but this will need at least a decade of cellaring.