2005
Bordeaux Futures
The 2005 vintage
is outstanding
throughout the Bordeaux region, both in quality and
acclaim and with top châteaux declaring surprisingly low quantities of
wine in comparison to yield, adequate
allocations have been hard to obtain. To
order or to request price information on specific wines not appearing in
this listing, please call us at 212-759 5857
|
Saint-Estephe |
Beekman Liquors 2005 Tasting Notes |
|
| Calon
Segur |
From
the Médoc's northernmost classified corner, if a wines' quality
can be measured by the château owner's affability and lyrical
acclaim of her dominant varietal, then Mme. Gasqueton's 2005
60-65%-Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5-10% Cabernet Franc
assemblage reflects her sunny mood this year. Crushed
blackcurrants and a piercing minerality on nose and palate. Deep
garnet, even extraction. 50% new oak, 25% malolactic carried out
in cask. A great Calon. Length, strength and purity of
fruit. |
$1.200.00
|
| Cos
d'Estournel |
Interesting
musky spice notes. High Cabernet Sauvignon component (78% to
Merlot's 19% and 3% Cabernet Franc). 5% press makes its presence
felt. 80% new oak. 95% of wine undergoes in-barrel malolactic
fermentation after blending. Experimentation with significant use
of Burgundy barrels continues from last year.13.95 o
alcohol and strong, fresh tannins easily absorbed. Great
depth of purple. High-tone currant and plum. Slow-streaming
glycerol tears. 42 hectoliters per hectare ( hl/ha) yield compared
to 1982's 80hl/ha illustrative of recent Bordeaux tendency. |
Sold Out
|
| Lafon
Rochet |
Impressively
dark, fragrant with spice and powerful berry tones. 49% Merlot,
44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. Solid,
though it lacks a little flair and definition from
mid-palate onwards, though could well fill out. |
$555.00
|
| Montrose |
Dense,
opaque, an intriguing fragrance of intense black fruits
suffused with profound dried rose notes. A high 77% of total
44 hl/ha yield went into the Grand Vin. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon,
31% Merlot, 3.5% Cabernet Franc, .5% P. Verdot, 65% new oak, 9%
press wine in what seems likely to be the last of the Charmolue
vintages after 110 years of family ownership. A notable absence of
astringency, doesn't quite measure up to the power of legends as
such as '90 and '03, but compensates with atypical understated
elegance. |
$1,345.00 |
| Pauillac |
|
|
| d'Armailhac |
60%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit
Verdot. Concentrated and dark. The Cabernet asserts itself with
cassis, mocha and notes of cedar not often apparent this vintage.
Not overbearing in terms of weight. |
$650.00
|
| Carruades
de Ch. Lafite |
Benefiting
from the ultra-strict selection for Lafite, for all the
high-alcohol Merlot, almost matching the 48.5% Cabernet Sauvignon,
with a small balance of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this
Carruades is seamlessly balanced, with crushed currant and cedar
aromas, showing a delicacy uncharacteristic of the vintage. |
Sold Out
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| Clerc
Milon |
48%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit
Verdot, 1% Grand Verdot. Lush and elegant, a little smokiness,
vibrant fruit. 39hl/ha yield lower than at Mouton. Real character
and length. |
$760.00
|
| Duhart
Milon |
A
masterly Duhart, wonderfully balanced, some woodland/hedgerow/
aromas and a hint of smokiness. Fresh, bright tannins and acidity,
dark purple, picking up richness on the palate, with complex dark
fruits and licorice. |
Sold Out
|
| Grand
Puy Lacoste |
78%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 45hl/ha. 60% new oak. Outstanding,
dense. Vibrant cherry and blackcurrant, exciting minerality laced
with all-spice and star-anise. Lively tannins and notable cashmere softness. Extended finish. |
$960.00
|
| Haut-Bages
Averous |
|
$440.00
|
| Haut-Batailley |
Great
freshness, with a hint of roasted plum and spice notes. 76%-24%
Cabernet Sauvignon at 45hl/ha, almost identical to stable-mate
Grand Puy Lacoste. Cedar towards the finish. |
$480.00
|
| Lafite
Rothschild |
Superlative.
Majestic just to look at! Lustrous garnet and ruby, tensile
glycerol clings to the glass for minutes on end. 88.8% Cabernet
Sauvignon, 10.7% Merlot, .5% Petit Verdot. Brancusi concentration.
Crushed berry, anise, sweet walnut fragrance, penetrating
cassis, rosehip, cedar and graphite flavors. Prodigious length,
utmost breed, pure harnessed energy. Competes with 2000 as
Lafite's finest ever. |
Sold Out
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| Latour
x6bts |
Profoundly
dark, incredibly compact, most backward of the 1st Growths, though
other tasters are divided in this respect. Perhaps an issue of
samples here. Long-lasting glycerin ellipse. Relatively low
(13.35) alcohol, attributable to 87% Cabernet Sauvignon over 12%
Merlot, the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Less overt than
Les Forts. A moulded, sinewy wine, taut, crisp and enduring from
aroma to finish. A mere 12,500 cases compared to an average
18,000. |
Sold Out
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| Les
Forts de Latour |
The
most complete second ever made. 76-24% Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot,
representing 45% of the estate's production including the majority
of newly acquired Cabernet lots, with a further 11% going to Cuvée
Pauillac and still more declassified to bulk. Fresh-baked brioche
and currant aromas with a trace of cinnamon. Pure glycerol clings
to the glass. Tides of fruit. Complex and succulent. |
$1,700.00
|
| Lynch-Bages |
Continues
a run of less-than-stellar vintages. Some elegant fruit, but
lacking the muscle that hallmarks this property's outstanding
years
With 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, a high 12% Cabernet Franc
and a dash of Petit Verdot, this seems to be reaching for a
finesse not entirely compatible with the accustomed house-style.
Black, with some tarriness on the nose, the dark fruits seem to
fall away from mid-palate onwards. |
Sold Out
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| Mouton Rothschild |
Philippe
Dhalluin's 2nd vintage since moving from Branaire Ducru lacks just
a little of the signature coffee aroma, but does offer clove and
roasted herbs. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 1% Cabernet
Franc. Restraint seems to get the better of a full-throttle,
despite relatively high natural alcohol and a strict selection.
Deep and viscous in appearance. Sleek tannins, blackberry
and blackcurrant with anise notes, a forward sweetness.
Side-by-side with D'Armailhac and Clerc Milon, it failed to assert
itself. To borrow from John Lennon, which one was Elvis? |
Inquire |
| Pichon
Baron |
A tour
de force from Baron. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4%
Cabernet Franc. Cropping at 35 hl/ha followed by a draconian
selection has resulted in a wine of rare focus and definition.
Waves of fruit, spices, powerful tannins and fresh acidity succeed
one another. Glistening crimson, dark chocolate, crushed raspberry
and anise. A lengthy finish. |
$1,650.00
|
| Pichon
Lalande |
Rich
blackcurrant aromas with hints of rose-petal and Asian spice. Very
dark and opulent in appearance. Relatively low alcohol at 13%,
bearing in mind the 36% Merlot. 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit
Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc . 50% new oak is low and the
50hl/ha yield quite high for a property of this standing, and
perhaps these numbers help explain why this falls away after
a promising beginning. |
Sold Out
|
| Pontet
Canet |
Yet
another instance of outperforming its 5th Growth classification.
Classic pungent cedar and cassis with hints of singed herbes de
provence. A 35hl/ha yield ( lower than any 1st Growth) of 70%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot. 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% P. Verdot.
Glycerine rim clung to the glass upwards of a minute. Large-scale,
unctuous, packed with black and red currants and layered with
mineral and spice which carry right through to the extended
finish. |
$1,150.00
|
| Saint-Julien |
|
|
| Beychevelle |
A
mere 47% Cabernet Sauvignon component as against ,46% Merlot, 3%
Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot is atypical both for the vintage
and the apellation. Not much on the nose and some candy
character, but comes through brightly on the finish. |
Sold Out
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| Branaire
Ducru |
60%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot. Exceptionally
deep color, mineral notes, red cherry, great purity of fruit,
plenty of nerve, length and definition. Continues the
polished transition by the new winemaking team over the past 2
vintages. |
$900.00
|
| Clos
du Marquis |
As
always, Las Case's second wine (almost entirely from parcels of
its own ) well up to cru classé quality. Gorgeous aroma of
fresh Cabernet Sauvignon with delicate cassis and hints of coffee,
despite there being only 49.5% CS with 37.5% Merlot, a high 11.5
Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Scintillating crushed fresh red
and black currants. Great finesse and freshness. |
$635.00
|
| Ducru
Beaucaillou |
A
low 10,000 cases of Ducru '05 will be produced, so look for a
significant price rise. Two-to-one Cabernet Sauvignon to Merlot
ratio just about in line with the plantings. 87% new oak. Lustrous
garnet/amethyst robe. Intriguing tar and dark rose-petal aromas.
Dense black fruit. Enduring length. High 13.6o alcohol.
Another Pauillacesque St.-Julien, for large format and the ages. |
Sold Out
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| Gruaud
Larose |
Atypical
restraint. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc,
3% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec. Roasted herb and crushed berry aromas.
Lovely interlacing of fresh fruits, a delicacy not always
associated with the property, but underlying power, suppleness and
great balance. One of the vintage's less overt samples and
accordingly misread and under-rated by some. |
$735.00
|
| Lagrange |
Lagrange
on steroids after a deceptively gentle beginning in what may be
the last vintage under the long-time direction of Marcel
Ducasse. Very dark with huge tannins and wonderfully taut, big and
complex compote of fresh red and dark fruits. Spice and a somewhat
Pauillac cedar and cassis nose, despite the high ( 45%) dose of
Merlot. 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, at 9%, one of the Medoc's highest
proportions of Petit Verdot. 8% of presse contributed to
the structure. Impressive balance. Clearly a wine with real
staying power. |
$650.00 |
| Lalande
Borie |
Dense
and purple. Ripe red berry and mulberry nose, record tannin-levels
easily balanced by abundant fruit and acidity. 45% Cabernet
Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. 30% new oak. |
$285.00
|
| Langoa
Barton |
If
this had continued as in vintages past below the radar
price-wise, Langoa would again have been one of the buys of the
vintage. Clove, iron and blackberry on the nose, a brilliant,
opaque ruby appearance. Muscular, seamless. Very expressive 70%
Cabernet Sauvignon, the rest 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc.
Well-integrated. |
$945.00
|
| Leoville
Barton |
As
dark a barrel-sample as its possible to imagine. Vin noir. Completely
dominated by the massive primary fruit qualities. Underlying notes
of mineral and cedar . A confit of dark fruits. 70% Cabernet
Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. At 37hl/ha, 1/3 down on
2004. But for a judiciously restrained 50% new oak, this would be
more massive still. Beautifully harnessed power. The finish is
long and notably dry, indicating great aging potential. |
$1,400.00
|
| Leoville
Las Cases |
Just
37% of the estate's material in this, made up of 87.6% Cabernet
Sauvignon 7.6% Merlot, 4.8% Cabernet Franc. The choice of a
relatively low 65% new oak allows the wine to express some
extraordinary nuances including but not limited to aromas of attar
of roses, raspberry sorbet, marzipan, minerals, scents of
forest and high-summer garden. with the volume of '86 and elegance
of 1996. Doesn't explode from the glass like 2000 or '03 but
keeps much of its power up its sleeve. Tantalizing high-register
fruit with spice, fresh herbs. One of '05's very best. |
$3,550.00
|
| Leoville
Poyferre |
A
relatively rare foray into the Northern Medoc for Michel Roland,
and it goes to show that Napaesque wines can be made here, but
mightn't a sensational St.- Julien make more sense? 66%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot. Just a dash of
herb and licorice with otherwise unmitigated fruit-forward new-oak
extraction. |
$1,080.00
|
| Talbot |
Best
Talbot in years. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5%
Petit Verdot. Relatively high 50hl/ha yield from one of Bordeaux's
largest classified properties should ensure plenty of this creme
de cassis/lliqueurish, smokey medium-bodied wine comes to market.
Power and finesse and density. |
Sold out |
| Margaux |
|
|
| Blason
d'Issan |
|
$325.00
|
| Brane-Cantenac |
Rich,
dark and complex, suggesting herbs, spices, sweet red as
well as dark berries and currant fruits. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon,
39% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc. Had filled and rounded out
considerably when re-tasted during Henri Lurton's Beekman visit 3
weeks later. Generous fruit, restrained but evident tannins and
freshness. |
$750.00
|
| d'Issan |
A
property generally more esteemed in N. Europe than in the U.S. At
42hl/ha, a reduced yield for d'Issan. 60-40% Cabernet
Sauvignon-Merlot. A profusion of fruits, spice and licorice.
Opulent and long. Silky, powerful and elegant. Effortlessly
encompasses a high 13.7o alcohol component. A massive,
structured and complex wine . |
Sold Out |
| Kirwan |
Very
dominant new oak. 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Petit
Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc. Jammy but nuanced sweet fruit, with
Michel Roland consulting. Sleek, good length. New world with
kirsch, minerality and cassis. |
$800.00 |
| Lascombes |
Lascombes
continues where the last 4 vintages left off. Great credit to
Dominique Befve. Smokey, mocha nose. Vivid, densely black and
violet tinged. 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 3% Cabernet
Franc. Complex, big-boned fruit, yet retains Margaux character.
Chocolate, raspberry mousse and truffles with floral infusion.
Glycerol and impressive length. |
Sold Out
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| Malescot
St. Exupery |
Quite
floral and tarry. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 2% Petit
Verdot. Penetrating flavors wrapped in powerfu, exceptionally
fresh and clean tannins. Very ripe. Like many wines, the red berry
flavors belie the depth of color, combining with penetrating
mineralty. |
Sold Out
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| Margaux |
Director
Paul Pontailler, master of measurement as none other, proclaims
this the densest Margaux ever, also the most tannic, though this
is effortlessly assimilated. Despite the high quality of the
Merlot, mostly consigned to Pavillon, it was deemed
"incompatible" with the Cabernet Sauvignon ( 86%), huge
for Margaux. Only 8% Merlot was utilized, together with 5%Petit
Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. "Among the 4 or 5 best in 25
years", most certainly an understatement. Classical. A wine
of high art with Latour-like richness and a femininity that is all
Margaux. Cohesive and dazzling. |
Sold Out |
| Pavillon
Rouge de Ch. Margaux |
A
Pavillon of huge concentration and an immense 14o
alcohol, by far the highest ever. Fresh crushed herbs. 48% each of
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. Exceptionally
sweet fruit. Liquorous. Powerful and fine. |
Sold Out
|
| Medoc/Ht.
Medoc |
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| Cantemerle |
Sold Out
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| Caronne
Ste. Gemme |
$195.00
|
| Goulee |
Sold Out |
| Pessac-Leognan |
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| Bahans
Haut-Brion |
$725.00
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| Haut-Brion |
Sold Out
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| Smith-Haut
Lafitte |
$900.00
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| Saint
Emilion |
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| Angelus |
$3,050.00
|
| Faugeres |
$435.00
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| Pavie |
$4,350.00
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| Troplong
Mondot |
$3.000.00
|
| Pomerol |
|
| de
Sales |
Sold Out |
| Vieux
Chateau Certan |
$1,950.00
|
| Lalande
de Pomerol |
| La
Fleur de Bouard |
$420.00
|
| C.
de Castillon |
|
| Joanin
Becot |
Sold Out
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We
invite your inquiries at bliquors@beekmanliquors.com
We
will be available to answer your 2005 Bordeaux questions at 212-759 5857
|
