Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2005

The Château Grand Puy Lacoste 2005 has a brilliant, classic pencil-lead nose that is Pauillac through and through. There is no messin’ about here. The palate is very well defined with wonderful acidity, great depth of black fruit with an astonishingly precise finish that just takes your breath away. Is it the best 2005 of the vintage? Not quite, but it belongs in the top tier. And factor in value for money, I would be happy sitting on a big pile of this in my cellar to drink over the rest of my lifetime and the afterlife if that exists too.

Has subtle blackberry, licorice and currant on the nose, with hints of mint. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a very pretty texture. Caresses everything. Refined and balanced. A beautiful wine that's hard to keep your hands off now. Best after 2012. 14,165 cases made.

The 2005 is taking its time to fully come around and this will still improve over the next five to 10 years, but it is starting to live up to expectations. Packed with truffles, tar, and cigar box, soy, black tea, campfire smoke, smoked earth. A classic Grand-Puy-Lacoste, from an effortlessly balanced vintage. Harvest September 22 to October 5, 70% new oak.

A fabulous GPL. Perhaps better than the legendary 1982? It shows laser-guide precision on the palate with aromas of currants, cedar, mint, flowers and chocolate. Full-bodied and extremely finely textured on the palate, lasting for minutes. A joy to drink now. Get some.

Lightly perfumed and spicy, with some dark plum fruit on the nose but really pretty restrained. Elegant and rounded. A nice whole and quite approachable – long and fine tannins though the wine is well structured for the longer term. (JH)

A big, chewy, chunky blast of sweet, ripe, fleshy cassis with a strong dose of tobacco leaf. The nose and palate are in synch. The finish continues with the theme. 60 minutes in the decanter adds to the experience. Drink from 2024-2040.

Deep garnet with purple highlights. Intense, warm bouquet of dried plums, blueberries, a refreshing hint of candied citrus peel, peppery notes and traces of truffle. A fleshy palate, very juicy, showing perfectly integrated acidity and nicely matured tannins; an aromatic finish with plenty of blueberry-driven Cabernet notes and a toasty chestnut touch, all with real drive. One of the truly great GPL vintages; it may, in five years, catch up with the score of the phenomenal 2000.

Deep garnet with purple highlights. Intense, warm bouquet: dried plums, blueberries, with a refreshing hint of candied citron, peppery notes and a touch of truffle. Fleshy palate, plenty of juice, perfectly integrated acidity and beautifully matured tannins; aromatic finish with lots of blueberry-tinged Cabernet character and a toasty chestnut touch. Elegant and powerful at the same time. Clearly one of GPL’s truly great vintages and could match the score of the phenomenal 2000 in perhaps 5 years. (18/20). 17: Dark, still with a violet sheen. Creamy bouquet, showing blackberries and very high ripeness in the very dark-berry fruit. Juicy, finely elegant and long, with very ripe tannins; overall a very precise, linear wine. A brilliant Pauillac with an incredible amount of finesse.

Dense, velvety, fresh, complex bouquet: blackcurrant, fresh plums, tobacco, a fine hint of liquorice. Balanced, elegant, tightly knit palate with concentrated dark aromas, fine tannins, fine fruit and a very long, intense finish. 19/20 drink until 2040.

One of the 2005s that I have drunk most regularly, and it always delivers. Still on top form for this tasting, dark ruby in colour, primary in its fruit expression. Tightrope balance of fruit and tannins, just emerging into its drinking window. Pencil lead, smoked earth, sandalwood, spice, eucalyptus, mint, pencil lead, cassis. A 40 year wine from this point on. Appellation signature in a glass. Needs carafing to fully open up, and then it's game on. Harvest September 22 to October 5, 70% new oak.

The wine charms with its lovely fruit and subtly minty notes. The palate is very elegant and finely textured. A beautiful classic wine with a bright future ahead.

Dark, intense colour, slightly evolved. A highly aromatic nose with ripe, subtle fruit, developing in the glass into something complex and inviting, with a surprising note of warm butter. Later, with aeration, it becomes fresher, more intense, younger, with an inky nuance. A hint of caramel. Delicate on entry, delicate through the mid-palate and frankly delicious, with presence and plenty of flavour; while remaining moderate in breadth, the wine develops juicy and noble despite a framework that is still a little tight. Very fine length. It can already be tasted. Blend: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot.