It’s all about the 2005 Bordeaux vintage. That’s according to one of Europe’s largest fine wine merchants FINE+RARE at least, which held a 2005 Masterclass for Global Partnership’s Private Office Club and a group of family members in November 2014. At the well-attended event, fittingly held at Vintners’ Hall in the City of London, the wine merchants assessed five iconic wines from the increasingly in-demand 2005 Bordeaux vintage. The wines are obviously young, but 10 years on, FINE+RARE was able to reveal a glimpse of the complexity, texture and purity that characterises the vintage.
Notably, the vintage is also underpriced, according to Craig Norton, London-based private client sales manager at FINE+RARE. “2005 is hailed as one of the great vintages of the last decade. As a result it will always be in high demand and as such it really should be represented in any strong portfolio or cellar,” he notes. “2009 and 2010 might be the most expensive young vintages available, and may well be the most hyped, but for the connoisseur, 2005 arguably beats the two of them.”
It seems that the 2005 vintage, which is stylistically close to 2010 yet more complete, stands out as a perfect scoring First Growth from a profound vintage.
“As the years pass, it becomes ever clearer how good the wines from Bordeaux are in 2005. This currently looks underpriced in the face of dwindling supply and now is the right time to purchase,” Norton adds.
So what wines are recommended? Well Norton is partial to the Chateau Margaux. “Frankly, this is an outrageous effort in 2005 and is an essential requirement for any cellar,” he says. “Only now is it really beginning to express itself and show its potential.” The Margaux exudes subtle aromatics, starting to show the first signs of development, with hints of cedar, tobacco and sweet spice.
And the Pauillacs (Lafite, Latour & Mouton) provided at the event offer something completely different. “These three demonstrate their different terroirs perfectly: Lafite’s understated regal polish, Mouton’s close-knit, rich, exotic spice and Latour’s power, depth and class,” Norton notes.
But perhaps the biggest excitement came around the Haut-Brion. Often billed as the ‘Connoisseur’s First Growth’, the group at the event were excited to see how it measured up against what had already been a formidable line up. And it certainly delivered. According to Norton, not only does the Haut-Brion offer the best value but it is showing first signs of maturity with hints of earth, smoke and spice: “There is an enticing meaty, savouriness which is exciting for what’s to come – just magnificent.”
