When I first tasted 2005 Bordeaux from bottle at the end of 2007 I wrote this: “These young wines seduce you from the start with their complex aromas of ripe fruit, minerals and light earth. These enticing aromas seem to constantly evolve in the glass. They are mesmerizing, like subtle perfume on a beautiful woman. You fall in love with them the moment you taste them.”
Well, I fell in love with them all over again last week in Beirut. I was asked to host a small VIP tasting at Vintage Wine Cellar featuring a small range of 2005 Bordeaux and the wines showed spectacular quality. Their beauty and balance are breathtaking. They underline the greatness of modern Bordeaux, whereby the wines have unparalleled polish and class compared to the past.
Having tasted the wines in the spring of 2006 from barrel, when they were only a few months old, whether red, white, dry or sweet I already compared the vintage to such modern classic years as 1982, 1989, 1990, 1995 and 2000. They were honestly that good quality at such a young age. Of course, 2009 and 2010 were not harvested yet, but today I even can say that 2005 is in the same league as these marvelous modern vintages.
The word radiant seems to pop in my head when I think back to the Beirut tasting in early October. In fact, I drank other bottles of 2005 Bordeaux during dinners and lunches over the three days in the city, and the energy and character of the wines remained captivating throughout. I have to admit it all seemed sort of surreal in a city that remains the Paris of the Middle East despite the obvious turmoil close by in such places as Syria and Israel. Nevertheless, Beirut remains a vibrant city with an incredibly sophisticated wine and food culture, not to mention being the best Cuban cigar city in the world outside of Havana.
Prices for the best 2005 Bordeaux seem relative bargains considering many are selling at, or near release price. Top wines are less expensive than just a year or two ago. For example, Mouton-Rothschild sold for as much as $9,000 per case of 12 bottles but currently trades for about $6,000 according to figures from Liv-Ex, the London-based fine wine platform. The 2005 Grand-Puy-Lacoste, one of the most popular wines of the Beirut tasting, sells for about $100 a bottle. That’s not much more than what it sold for when first came out in bottle in 2008. 
I suggest buying some 2005 and drinking them now and later. I myself just bought a case of the 2005 Grand-Puy-Lacoste in Hong Kong. Here are the notes for a dozen of the wines tasted in Beirut. They are listed alphabetically with score. Search my site for other 2005s tasted in the last five years. You won’t be disappointed.
Photos from top to bottom: Wadih Riachi of Vintage Wine Cellar holds a 2005 Mouont-Rothschild; A bottle of Conseillante; Beirut private yacht harbor; Event dinner in Beirut restaurant La Centrale hosted by Vintage Wine Cellar; Guests enjoying some superb wines with food
Château Calon Segur Saint-Estèphe 2005 (94)
Château Cheval-Blanc Saint Emilion 2005 (98)
Château Conseillante Pomeral 2005 (98)
Château Cos d’Estournel Saint-Estèphe 2005 (99)
Château Giscours Marguax 2005 (95)
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac 2005 (96)
Château La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan 2005 (99)
Château Leoville Poyferre St-Julien 2005 (94)
Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac 2005 (96)
Château Montrose Saint-Estèphe 2005 (96)
Château Mouton-Rothschild Pauillac 2005 (98)
Château Rauzan-Segla Margaux 2005 (97)
