A beautiful effort from Monbousquet, this 2005 comes across to me as one of their strongest efforts, with notes of toasty oak, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit as well as some licorice, incense and flowers. Full-bodied and opulent, this is an amazing wine from a terroir on the so-called “wrong side” of St.-Emilion. Drink it over the next 15 or more years. It is an amazing performance.

Bright ruby. Knockout nose combines black raspberry, kirsch, licorice and coffee. Silky and chocolatey-ripe in the mouth but with more class and aromatic lift than usual for this consistent outperformer. Sweet, fine-grained and harmonious thanks to ripe, well-integrated acidity. Consistent from start to finish. The tannins are ripe and broad. A superb vintage in the making for Monbousquet.

Robert Parker''s Wine Advocate 30/04/2008

More Burgundian than Bordeaux-like, Gerard Perse’s 2005 white Monbousquet exhibits rich, medium to full-bodied flavors of smoky oak, mango, white peaches, honeysuckle, and nectarine. While delicious, its aging potential is suspect, and I suggest consuming it over the next 4-5 years

From a less than noble terroir in Saint-Sulpice de Faleyrens, Gerard Perse has accomplished miraculous things at Monbousquet. Prior to his acquisition of this property in the mid-nineties, this wine tasted like watered-down Beaujolais, but Perse has turned it into one of the more stunning, modern-styled wines of Bordeaux. A blend of approximately two-thirds Merlot, one-third Cabernet Franc and 8-10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2005 exhibits plenty of toasty oak, roasted herb, meat juice, blackberry, cherry, and spice characteristics along with a touch of incense. Full-bodied and opulent, with an atypically rigid structure, this is a remarkable achievement for such a humble terroir. It admirably reflects Gerard Perse’s obsessive commitment to excellence. Look for this 2005 to hit its stride in 7-8 years, and last for 15-20. (95)

Dark red; sweetly ripe, cedary nose; rich, concentrated, powerful and tannic; a big, forceful wine of modest complexity within the muscular frame. Chewy to the point of astringency. Very ripe fruit, and good length. Difficult to know when this will mellow by though. 2018-30

Tasted blind. Blackish ruby. Very light nose. Round and sweet. Easy peasy. Not for a long life and with a hint of alcohol on the end, but already a fairly charming drink. Penalised slightly for heat and precociousness but grab it now. (JR)