Source: 219, The Wine Advocate; Issue Date: 29th Jun 2015 (RP-90)

D’Armailhac’s 2005 offers notes of cedar wood, forest floor, black and red currants, spice box and earth. It is medium-bodied, relatively soft for a 2005, and best drunk over the next 12-15 years.
Drink Date 2015 – 2025

Source: Winemaker,

Harvest: 21 September to 27 September
Varietal mix: Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Merlot 29%, Cabernet Franc 10%, Petit Verdot 1%
Tasting notes: The wine has an attractive colour, dark and deep. The nose delicately combines floral aromas, berry fruit (blackberry and cherry), fresh fruit reminiscent of nectarine and a touch of roast coffee. Ample and sturdy on the palate, it reveals forward but already well-integrated tannins that give an impression of body and heft, pleasantly sustained by refined, toasty and slightly smoky oak. The finish, long and full, displays a perfect balance between solid structure, roundness, body and rich, satisfying flavours.
Climatic conditions: Weather conditions for the 2005 vintage were unusual, since the year was 0.3? C colder than the average for the last forty years, mainly due to cooler than normal nights. The period from April to September was particularly dry, with only 313 mm of rainfall being recorded between the start of the year and the harvest, compared with an average of 602 mm. However, these exceptional conditions did not affect the usual pace of the vegetation cycle. Flowering occurred for all three varieties around 5 June and veraison took place a few days earlier than the average, between 1 and 8 August. The grapes were harvested between 21 September and 6 October in conditions that may be described as ideal. Although the atypically dry weather meant that yields were relatively low, the wines show rich, powerful and stylish tannins. Overall, the profile of the 2005 vintage is rather reminiscent of 1976, 1982 and 1995.