La Lagune 2005

Black-red, great concentration of ripe blackcurrant fruit with gamey, even leathery overtones, rich, plummy with crunchy fragrance, lively personality and a seductively long finish. Drink 2009-25.

Classic, restrained claret nose, deep and reassuring. Imperceptible balance, controlled ripeness and a composed structure. A fine future ahead. Drink from 2014. Awarded 5 stars.

This is the finest wine made at this estate since 1982, and possibly the greatest La Lagune of all time. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by an exquisite bouquet of spice box, incense, sweet unsmoked cigar tobacco, black cherry liqueur, forest floor, and subtle toasty oak. Reminiscent of a Cote de Nuits grand cru blended with a top-notch Bordeaux, this beauty possesses silky tannins, a broad, savory, expansive mouthfeel, and intrinsic precision as well as elegance. Moreover, this fabulous wine is a relative bargain for the vintage. Seamless and prodigious! Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025

My tastings this year reconfirmed that 2005 is a reference point vintage for La Lagune. The finest wine they have produced since 1982, it is similar to a hypothetical blend of a grand cru Burgundy and a Bordeaux with its sweet, flowery, black cherry, forest floor, and subtle toasty oak-scented bouquet. It could be a Vosne-Romanee Les Malconsorts from a top producer ... it’s that good. Rich and layered, with silky tannin, a broad, expansive mouthfeel, and an elegant style, it should hit its prime in 5-7 years, and keep for 25 or more.

Until now, my reference vintage for La Lagune has been 1982, with the 1990 running a close second. However, the 2005 has the potential to be the finest La Lagune I have ever tasted. Dense ruby/purple-colored with sweet, briery, mountain berry notes interwoven with flowers, cherries, pain grille, and spice, it is intense yet elegant with tremendous purity and precision. While always somewhat Burgundian in style, the 2005 possesses more muscle and power than usual. It should be drinkable in 3-4 years, and last for 25 or more. It is a brilliant effort from this chateau.

Very pretty aromas of crushed raspberries, currants and minerals. Medium-bodied, with a lovely, silky tannin texture and a medium finish. Best La Lagune in a long time. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.

Dark crimson. Solid and layered. Lots of chew and substance but great harmony and classic reverberation on the palate. Just a slightly sour note on the finish stops me from giving an even higher score. 13%Drink 2020-2035

Very bright healthy crimson. A little bit of brett on the nose? But not so as to spoil this very flashy, flattering wine that is already rather soft because of the ripeness of the tannins, which are there. Modern style

Healthy, moderately deep crimson. Full, ripe, foxgloves aroma. Meaty and sweet- certainly very ripe. Extremely bumptious and charming. This wine is wagging its tail! Not for the very long term perhaps but wonderfully bright and zappy. Drink 2010-18