Personalised Wine Gifts

The Chateau LEnclos Vineyards today boast 24 hectares of vines, mainly located on terraces. Soils are varied, composed of chalky-clayey, sandy-clayey or boulbenes soils, which partly account for the quality of the wines.

Chateau Gruaud Larose 2006. Blackberry fruit on the nose, with a slightly nutty element from the oak alongside. It seems a little flashy and exuberant on entry, but then shows a leaner and more gently composed midpalate. Underneath there is dense, ripe, fairly firm structure.

Chateau Branaire Ducru 2006 Cru Classe St Julien. Branaire has been a particularly good source of fine St Julien in the last decade and 2005 was a triumph. The 2006 is a good wine for the vintage, with a deep colour and an almost minty Cabernet edge to the nose.

Chateau Croizet Bages 2006 vintage wine. In Medoc, where competition is fierce, this 27 hectare property located on the Bages plateau, close to its great neighbour Lynch-Bages.

The 2005 Montrose is an exceptionally tannic, broodingly backward offering displaying a dense ruby/purple color along with a provocative perfume of crushed rocks, flowers, cassis, black raspberries, and blueberries. It continues to add weight and richness, good traits considering the substantial, forbiddingly high tannin levels and zesty acidity. If you are over the age of fifty, this backward, powerful wine will probably be more enjoyable to your descendants. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2040+. Parker 95 points

Ch Pontet Canet 2005 wine. The work that Alfred Tesseron and his winemaking team have done at this estate since 1994 is remarkable. At this fabulous terroir just south of Mouton-Rothschild, Tesseron has made major investments, and instituted incredibly severe selections in both the vineyard and winery. The result is a succession of extraordinary wines. It is difficult to know whether the 2005 Pontet-Canet will ultimately eclipse the hedonism and density of the flamboyant 2003, but it is unquestionably a stunning effort. Inky/black-colored with a classic Pauillac perfume of licorice, black currant liqueur, graphite, cedar, and spice box, it is full-bodied, with magnificent concentration, formidable tannins, and an Arnold Schwartzenegger-like structure (when he was 25 years younger). This backward, formidably endowed 2005 will require patience. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2040. points 96+

Le Pavillon Rouge de Chateau Margaux. 2005 wine. As I indicated last year, administrator Paul Pontallier, along with the owners, has made a concerted effort to upgrade the quality of Chateau Margauxs second wine, which now represents nearly 200,000 bottles. The 2005 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux (primarily equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with a small dollop of Petit Verdot) is actually higher in alcohol (14%) than its big sibling. Although not as complex as that wine, it is an intense, fleshy, silky-textured, opulent, rich effort boasting terrific purity as well as sweet fruit and tannin. A sleeper selection, it will provide immense enjoyment for 15 or more years.

Situated in the district of Listrac-Medoc, the vineyard occupies a privileged position on the hills of Puy de Menjon, the highest point in Medoc. The average age of the vines is 30 years old and the growing is traditional.

2005 Les Fiefs de Lagrange. The second wine of Lagrange offers brilliant value in every vintage and perhaps especially so in 2005. Only vines of over 30 years of age contribute to the Grand Vin so there is plenty of meat left on the bone for Les Fiefs. Reflects faithfully the style and proportion of its big brother, but in a more supple style.

Traditionally fruity and supple rather than a tannic monster, its 2005 is somewhat hors de commun. This is extremely robust with concentrated, weighty fruit cloaking impressive tannins. Pure, sweet, dense blackcurrant flavours contribute to a classic weighty Pauillac that displays all the hallmarks of this outstanding vintage. An excellent buy. Drink 2012-2025

One of the sexiest, most hedonistic wines of the vintage, La Clottes 2005 (fewer than 1,400 cases produced from this 10-acre vineyard) is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. An exquisite perfume of underbrush, charcoal, kirsch, spice box, chocolate, and espresso soars from the glass of this full-bodied claret. With low acidity for the vintage, sweet tannin, and a fleshy, multilayered mouthfeel, this decadent St.-Emilion should last longer than its precocious showing in March suggests. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025. 93 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2008).

Ch Lagrange St Julien 2005. Parker Score: 91 /100. The keynote here though is the incredible ripeness. The attractive nose is elegant and pretty, while the wine itself is pure and generous with polished blackberry fruit and real sex appeal. Another great wine from this Berrys' favourite. Drink 2012-2020.