4 value 05s, the 4 key leftbank communes

[rjsussex]

In company. All 4 wines, similarly priced, met before from my cellar but not together.

Margaux: Paveil de Luze. St Julien: Sarget de Gruaud Larose. Pauillac: Columbier Monpelou [present from a student: I wouldn't normally buy this property]; St Estephe: Le Crock.

The Sarget lagged from the start as lighter and less vivid but (as I'd hoped) it grew into its graceful self as a stylish and balanced middle-weight. The Columbier Monpelou, conversely, got off well with some vivid Pauillac zip but faded before our eyes over the evening. The Le Crock was flashy and showy all evening - appreciated but less so by me (I've written rather critically about this wine on this board earlier).

And the clear winner was the Paveil de Luze, to my surprise but delight. Crisp, tense and so well-balanced - despite 13.5%. A wine crafted without pretension but with the grain of the vintage - ripe but full of Cabernet grip and freshness of fruit and acidity. Made the other wines seem rather flabby.

Richard

[AlexR]

Richard,

Many thanks for this insight.

Glad to read about Paveil de Luze.

All the best,
Alex