2005 Chateau Rauzan-Gassies 2eme Cru Classe, Margaux 12x75cl

JancisRobinson.com 14.5

Smudgy rim. Not much nose. Very sweet and thick then greenish tinge on the finish. Caricature wine. [18/02/2009]

Anticipated maturity: 2013-2016

Robert Parker 92

Significantly better from bottle than it was from barrel, the 2005 Rauzan-Gassies appears to be the finest wine this estate has ever produced. Dense purple-hued with a beautiful perfume of camphor, creme de cassis, licorice, bay leaf, and incense, it is a full-bodied, stunningly concentrated, broad, rich Margaux with lovely integrated tannins. This backward 2005 will handsomely repay cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2030+. [Robert M. Parker, Jr., 30/04/2008]

Anticipated maturity: 2014-2030

Vinous 85-87

Good full ruby. Blackberry pastille, licorice and violet on the nose. Juicy, moderately dense and dry; rather powerful for this Margaux, perhaps a function of extraction. Concentrated but distinctly dry-edged on the back, with tough tannins. Also tasted: 2003 Rauzan-Gassies*. [Stephen Tanzer, 05/01/2006]