Collection: Glorious 2005 Bordeaux

2005 is certainly Bordeaux's strongest vintage of the century to that early point. 2000 has its advocates, but in the final analysis, the wines lack the concentration of the very top years. And it's that quality, along with unmatched complexity and balance, that sets 2005 above its neighboring vintages.

For a long time, the complaint has been that the firmly-structured 2005s will never be ready; that, happily, is beginning to change. Latour 2005, for example, is amazingly good today. Margaux and Mouton Rothschild will continue to improve but are stunning after a two hour decant. At lower levels, it is hard to go wrong; virtually every wine displays generous fruit, great depth and a succulent finish. This is a rare vintage of broad and untrammelled pleasure.