Alas, finally, 2005 Carbonnieux showing me something....

[JimHow]

I've been previously a little let down the three or four times I've had this but it really seems to be smokin' on this rainy Monday night!

[Nicklasss]

Ah the great 2005 red Bordeaux. Wines ready for 50 years without being scared. I'm still waiting 2 or 3 years before opening a bottle of something slightly serious.

Tell us more later about that Graves Jim.

Nic

[JimHow]

Damn, this puppy has, dare I say it, Nicola, a little HB and LMHB in it!
Stunningly aromatic tonight. I really wonder whether my first two bottles may have been a little damaged or something in some way because this lovely lady is a beauty on both the nose and palate....

[JimHow]

It even has some added complexity and sediment in the end. Strong effort. I like it now but it will continue to show well for at least another five years. A fine representation of 2005. A pleasant surprise. I was expecting to give this away as birthday and Christmas gifts. But there was a reason I bought a case after drinking a bottle of this in its infancy. Very pleasant surprise. I'm guessing many would consider this "modern" but I actually find it leaning quite traditional. Bravo! A two point upgrade, from 90 points to 92 points.

[AKR]

Nice

[AlexR]

Carbonnieux was historically known for their white and the red was considered pedestrian stuff.

But I would put the 2005 as the benchmark vintage for Carbonnieux rouge.

In fact, I tasted it with Bordeaux Harry, AKA Châteauneuf Harry (whose book I edited, and he never paid me, but that's a long story...) and was very impresssed.
On the strength of that, I bought a bottle (I don't really do cases).

I'll be interested to see if it's as good as I hoped it would be in a couple of years.

Alex R.

[robert goulet]

one of my favorite '05's on release.