May’s Unforgettable Wine & Spirits Experiences

This is made for us by the celebrated Hambledon Vineyard. Bright, pure and refreshing, a neatly woven mousse supports notes of stone-fruit, gooseberry crumble and English meadow. The palate is foaming and firmly mineral, showcasing the quality of the Chardonnay from Hampshire’s pure chalk soils. This is the perfect partner for any celebration.

Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

This Pommard Grands Epenots is a deep rich red, it has a subtle hint of earth on the nose, followed by the rich aromas of black cherries and with a touch of pepper. Very long finish, with great soft tanins.

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{color} Red{color}                                                               

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Like the Chambertin, this sports a somber but even more complex nose that is actually surprisingly elegant with lovely aromatic purity to the very dense aromas of red and blue pinot fruit plus violet notes that complement the notably ripe, earthy and serious medium full-bodied flavours brimming with dry extract that renders the firm tannins almost invisible on the precisely detailed and hugely long finish where the classic hallmark austerity of young Clos de Vougeot is well represented. I quite like this, but note that plenty of cellar time will be required first.

Drink from 2023 onward

Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (April 2010)

Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2014 tasting, Faiveley's 2014 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers felt a little diffuse on the nose compared to its peers. But it melds together with aeration, offering pretty dark plum and raspberry scents, later pressed flowers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grip and structure, a little rough round the edges but well balanced, although the finish just needs more flesh and body since it seems to attenuate, ossify a little, and it leaves you wanting more. Tasted September 2017.
Neal Martin - 31/10/2017

There is a completeness that is evident in 2005 Clarets, and this is what immediately strikes with 2005 Cantemerle. It has bags of fruit, tannin and acidity, all tied up in an impeccably-balanced, polished package. Sweet cassis fruit is accompanied by a spicy edge and a long, fresh lift. This is very pretty now but ideally wants another five years to really get going, and will easily keep for another five after that.

Tom Cave, Cellar Plan Manager

Cheval Blanc’s second wine, the 2005 Le Petit Cheval, possesses some of the character of its bigger sibling. Revealing a slight green streak among the cranberry and black cherry fruit along with medium body and a soft, plush texture, it is ideal for drinking over the next decade.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - 30-Apr-2008

I have loved this wine on many occasions, and I love it here again. This is not a wine that is hiding its age - there are already some tertiary notes developing - and you'll find younger-looking 2005s, but it has a generosity of spirit, a succulence to its fruit, and a hauntingly fresh menthol edge to the finish that is really beautiful. Mouthwatering brilliance. 45% of production.

Drink 2018 - 2030

Jane Anson, Decanter.com (November 2017)

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[]The Wine Advocate:: 93/100

[]Robert Parker:: 93/100  

{ratings} {***}

The 2005 Pontet-Canet is a heady, exotic wine. Inky dark fruit, mocha, chocolate, liquorice, spice and tobacco are front and centre. Readers will find an unabashedly opulent, full-throttle 2005 with quite a bit more oak influence and overall extraction than is the norm these days. Even so, the 2005 is a young, young wine with a bright future. This is one sexy Pauillac, that's for sure.

Drink 2025 - 2045

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (April 2021)