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Offer on Drinking 2005 Clarets

Offer on ‘Drinking’ 2005 Clarets

The 2005 vintage was very special. At the time of release we all got very excited. Then last week the ‘Wine Spectator’, the influential US wine periodical, scored the vintage 99/100; it is the next 1961. They also rated the following wines at 100 points - Margaux, Haut-Brion, Petrus, Lafleur, Evangile, Ausone and Léoville Las-Cases. Interest in buying the top wines in the vintage remains. Over the last few days Angelus broke through £2,000 barrier, Haut-Brion was trading at £6,900, Lafite traded just below £8,000 as did Latour, and Margaux has gone through £7,000. La Mission Haut-Brion has hit £5,000 having been released at £1,700!! Mouton remains the ugly duckling with the lowest Parker score of 93-95 (he initially scored at 94-96) at around £4,000. This reminds us how special a vintage it was and this at a time when the wines which were bought at the time of the En Primeur release are starting to be delivered to the UK.

So we thought we ought to build a small parcel of 2005 clarets that are for drinking. We strongly believe people should have a good presence in their cellars of 2005s. Prices are only going to go one way. So the sooner one is able to put a few cases aside the happier one should be for future drinking. The wines we have selected below will offer a good balance to a cellar plan.

Prices are per case and include duty and VAT unless they are stated In Bond.

Moulin d’Issan, Bordeaux Supérieur 2005 £131.40 Offer £124.80 (5% discount) or £90.00 In Bond

- The 3^rd wine of the ever improving Ch. d’Issan. The grapes are actually grown specifically for this wine on a separate 11 hectare site just outside the Margaux appellation. But the wine gets the benefit of the highly skilled team at d’Issan. Very approachable claret with gentle ripe tannins and dark fruit which is designed to be drunk young, while we all wait for the Grand Vin to mature! An excellent ‘good quality’ everyday drinking wine.

Ch. Tour du Haut Moulin, Cru Bourgeois 2005 £227.40 Offer £207.00 (9% discount) or £160.00 In Bond

- At the time of the initial tastings, Derek Smedley MW wrote ‘Light, flowery violets and bilberry on the nose. Sweetness on the palate quite full and rounded. The structure is firm and while there is fruit showing towards the end it is all very tight and closed at the moment. Will open up with time.’ He scored the wine 88-91 points and recommended drinking 2009-2015.

Ch. Coutet, Grand Cru St Emilion 2005 £258.00 Offer £232.20 (10% discount) or £181.00 In Bond

- A wine exclusive to us which consistently delivers. The 2005 scored 92 points at a recent tasting with Derek Smedley MW. His comments were ‘Ripeness shows on the nose, a rich mix of black and red fruits backed by black truffle and savoury flavours. There is power on the palate yet a flowing elegance, all so well balanced. The tannins are ripe and rounded yet do give structure and there is hidden fruit behind them.’ We recommend drinking 2010-2020.

Clos du Marquis, St. Julien 2005 £402.00 £325.00 In Bond

- 2^nd wine of Ch. Léoville Las-Cases. As mentioned above, the Wine Spectator scored Léoville Las-Cases 100 points and its second wine an precedented 93 points (no other second wine scored above 90 points). Uncle Bob Parker wrote of the Clos du Marquis ‘As usual, this estate’s second wine, the 2005 Clos du Marquis, is top-flight. Possessing more alcohol than the grand vin (13.45%), it offers gorgeous purity, plenty of red and black fruits, and a style similar to its more famous sibling. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2035.’ From our perspective, this wine offers a very good value way of drinking the top end of this fabulous vintage.

This offer remains subject to availability and our usual terms for delivery apply. If you would like to acquire the wines In Bond, please enquire about an account at EPW Reserves (our customer reserves). E&EO.

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