Bordeaux 2005: Tasting in 2006
With the passing of the sixth (or fifth, depending on whether you include 2000) vintage of the 21st Century, one has to feel just a little sorry for the Bordelais. Things got off to a prestigious start with the 2000 vintage. Clearly this was the Vintage of the Century; we could debate which century, but the fact remains that this was a highly regarded vintage, with many successful wines from all appellations. But then came 2003, and it was obvious that this was actually the Vintage of the Century, even though only a tiny number of châteaux turned out the most breath-taking wines, whilst the rest foundered somewhat.
So one has to feel for the Bordelais when they find themselves presented with the 2005 vintage. Obviously this can’t be the Vintage of the Century, because we have already had that twice over in the previous five years, so what are they to do? How can they, and the merchants that peddle their wines, convey the apparent quality to us, the lowly consumer. A new descriptive term is required.
2005 is the Vintage of a Lifetime!
Well, maybe. Sarcasm aside, it was clear as early as October 2005 – harvest time – that this was going to turn out to be a very special vintage. My vintage review gives some details of the conditions that contributed to this most successful of recent vintages, but presented below are my very first tasting notes, my first chance to assess the wines for myself. These wines were presented by Bibendum at their first ever Bordeaux en primeur tasting, in what will hopefully be a regular feature in the annual tasting calendar.
