Beschreibung:

Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 2005
1 dozen bottles per lot
2005 BORDEAUX Suspicion can sometimes be warranted: a "vintage of the century" comes around every five or ten years. In itself, this is not noteworthy - vignerons have always enthused about their latest crop. What is noteworthy, however, is the character of the 2005 vintage. This is a year that showcased the most appealing and friendly aspects of Bordeaux without lacking the classic structure that pleases traditionalists. The year began well, with sunny and mild temperatures for budbreak and flowering. The year was also very dry, with only 48 of the precipitation of the average. Fortunately for the growers, this rain fell at exactly the right time: a bit before budbreak, a bit before flowering, and a bit after vraison to help the final ripening. This lack of rain helped build up thick skins, which contribute to the tannic weight of these wines. The fact that the weather was sunny, but never excessively hot, however, helped ensure that the tannins would be very ripe and supple, and that the fruit would lack the jammy character of some years. The harvest began on September 7th with the Merlot, and continued steadily throughout the month. The Cabernet Franc was brought in during the last two weeks of September, and the Cabernet Sauvignon harvest began in early October after a brief cold snap brought up the acid levels, and continued through the end of the month. Unusually, the weather held throughout the harvest, with rain coming only for the last several days. These exceptional conditions produced truly extraordinary wine: ripe, lush, and velvety, yet packed with the tannin and enough acidity to allow the best of them to age gracefully for half a century. CC Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 2005 Pauillac, 1er cru classé In original wooden case 1 dozen bottles per lot