Medium+ ruby-garnet. Very pretty floral and pure red berry aromas with notes of pomegranate, violets, milk chocolate truffles and a touch of sage. The elegantly fruited palate is still a little tight yet already gives a peek at future pleasures with just the right concentration of berry flavours balanced by crisp acidity and a medium level of finely grained tannins. Long finish. Drink 2010 – 2019. Tasted February 2009.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown (in Asia, May 2009)

Served from magnum, the 2005 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru offers up a youthfully reserved bouquet of raspberries, cassis, creamy new oak and espresso roast. On the palate, the wine is beginning to unwind, as it's much less closed than it was when I last tasted it three years ago, displaying good concentration and depth at the core, a fine-grained tannic chassis and a long, generous finish. This ranks as the finest Clos des Lambrays between the 1970s and the 2010, and in a couple more years it will begin to drink in style.

On the nose it is still unformed but on the palate there is real depth and potential – without too much tannin despite the vintage and rank. Extremely serious and dry (as opposed to sweet) but reverberant and suggestive of a very bright future. But even 2020 may be too early to open it to optimise enjoyment. (JR)