2005 ratings

Several sites give numerical ratings for 2005 Bordeaux. The most complete I've found are at:

http://www.winedecider.com/uk/primeur-2005/index.htm
http://www.finestwine.com/en/Bordeaux-Futures-2005-Tasting-Notes.html
http://www.bordoverview.com/

Gavin Quinney of Château Bauduc in Bordeaux also has a web site devoted to his tasting of the 05s: http://www.bordeauxreport.com/

Bargins to watch for-

Two recent articles turned up during some random surfing. These are not about 2005 Bordeaux, but do offer recommendations for previous years. We can hope that the properites mentioned in each article perform well in 2005.

Robert Parker on 2003: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_38/b4001091.htm

Ed McCarthy on 2001 to 2003s:
http://www.winereviewonline.com/affordable_bordeaux.cfm

2005 Château Teyssier - Bordeaux AC (not St. Émilion)

Ordered several bottles of this with the mistaken impression that is was Ch. Teyssier - St. Émilion Grand Cru. I still don't understand how they get away with using the same name on different properties. For $10/btl I should have figured.

That said, my expectations weren't too high. Opened and decanted for 2 hours and drunk over four. Good young purple color and strong black currant nose. It actually hits you standing near the decanter. There is also a slight yeasty component. It tastes of black currant as well. Maybe a brief twinge of bitterness. Brisk acidity (the Cab Franc?) and little to no tannin. Fairly short finish. Not complex but very enjoyable. Another guilt-free drink. Glad I have extras. I don't imagine it will hold up for more than a few years. I'll wait another 6 months and try it again.

From the back label: The origin of this château goes back to the 11th and 12th centuries. In the Middle Ages monks began to plant their vines here. It was not until 1929 that Le Collen family – later to become Moysson-Le Collen – bought it.

Located in the village of Blasimon, 35 km east of Bordeaux, the vineyard is superbly positioned around the chateau.

With a deep ruby-red colour, it releases great aromatic richness in which the blackcurrant nose stands out. It is medium-bodied, ample and well-rounded in the mouth with wonderfully mellow tannins. In the finish it demonstrates suppleness and good length.

Blend for 2005 vintage: 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Production for the 2005 vintage: 100,568 bottles. Alc. 12.5%

Some early tastings from an enthusiast

There is a wonderful web site put up by Izak Litwar of Denmark. He appears appropriately obsessed with Bordeaux to offer trustworthy information. His site includes observations from his visits to Bordeaux during the last five harvest and a lot of tasting notes. Our interest is 2005 and he comes across with the goods - tasting notes on two wines already on our shores: Croix Mouton and Le Conseiller. Both are looking good. His note on Michel Rolland's Defi de Fontenil makes me think the more humble Ch. Fontenil might be worth tracking down as well.

Check it out: http://www.greatbordeauxwines.com/Bordeaux%202005.html

David Peppercorn's bargin recommendations

David Peppercorn, MW has focused his professional career on the wines of Bordeaux. His Wines of Bordeaux was the second book I came across while starting to learn about the region. He continues to write about Bordeaux in the annual Wine Report series. His latest take on the 2005 wines is in the Autumn 2006 issue of the Quarterly Review of Wines. The article is now available on their web site:

http://www.qrw.com/06autumn/qrwaut06_bordeaux.htm

The article includes a list of 42 wines he deems bargains, many fall around the $20/btl mark.
Just what we like.

2005 Château du Gris

Another from Wine Library forum. Hope to have a bottle soon to try.
http://tv.winelibrary.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=19539&highlight=#19539
You'll have to scroll down to the post by Tom T.

2005 Château Tour de Gillet

Not my note, but taken from another enthusiast on the Wine Library forum:
http://tv.winelibrary.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1460&highlight=2005