2005 Bordeaux: Cambon la Pelouse and Puygueraud

Paid $25 for both of these to see if a larger purchase was warranted. Drank both with a meat pasta dish - and the tannins in both just crushed the palate into submission. To put it into perspective, the tannins were as rough and tumble and prominent as a Dunn Howell Mtn.

Cambon la Pelouse
Very nice QPR Bdx. Dark purple color. Nose seemed a bit closed with faint raspberry and campfire notes but the palate was open for business. Full bodied with medium tannins - this became fatiguing to drink with pasta. Bursting with raspberry, black cherry and licorice, this is very dense and lush, with some oak apparent. Finish is solid, but the tannins ruin the experience right now. Became very tiring to drink, but should be very nice in 5-7 years. May buy one or two more to lay down.

Puygueraud
Deep ruby color. Powerful bouquet of blueberry, strawberry licorice and some baking spices. Tannins right now are harsh and drying, if they can settle down with time, this could make a great Bdx. This isnt lacking for fruit, with chocolate, black currant and spices. Very long finish. Tannins and a touch of heat on the back end make this a tough one to enjoy now. Check back in 3-7 years.

Both need time to soften the tannins - but I can see them becoming nice bottles of wine. $25 seems a bit high, but those are the breaks in MA.

Peter,
Thanks for the notes. I haven't had the Pelaouse since the 2000 version. I've seen the 2005 around here, so perhaps I'll pick up a couple for the cellar to see what develops. IIRC, the price is ~$25 as well.
Bill

Peter,
Thanks for the notes. I haven't had the Pelaouse since the 2000 version. I've seen the 2005 around here, so perhaps I'll pick up a couple for the cellar to see what develops. IIRC, the price is ~$25 as well.
Bill

It was our favorite of the two, and where the Puygueraud didnt soften much on Day 2, the Pelouse was drinking better than Day 1.

Paid $25 for both of these to see if a larger purchase was warranted. Drank both with a meat pasta dish - and the tannins in both just crushed the palate into submission. To put it into perspective, the tannins were as rough and tumble and prominent as a Dunn Howell Mtn.

This was my enduring impression from a recent tasting of several '05s from satellite appelations and generic Bdx: the tannins are quite formidable even in the historically lighter regions. These will either be vins de garde or wines that drop their fruit before resolving their tannins. Thanks for the note on the Cambon la Pelouse -- I bought a few bottles as futures.

Mark Lipton

Mark, I think you'll be really happy with the Pelouse down the line. Both wines seemed to have a solid dose of fruit to go with the tannins.

Peter,

At which store did you pick this up?

Mike

Hey Michael, I grabbed them at Blanchard's in Marshfield - you can order online if you don't feel like making the drive. The store closer to me in West Roxbury was out of both. Did you go to the 2005 Burg tasting at Lower Falls (on wellesley/newton border) last week?

Peter,

Many thanks! I take a look! No I wanted to and even had a check written out to the library but work got the better of me and I did not leave the office until well after the event had closed down. Although that might have not been a bad thing. In recent weeks, the purchases have been high and heavy and I might not ahve been able to resist..... sigh...

Mike

My wifes teaches K-1 in Wellesley, so she was psyched when I told her the $15 was going to the library. Really nice tasting, I only bought 3 of the Bourgognes and a couple 1er Crus, I'm pretty tapped out cashwise.

Definitely check out Blanchard's for the 2 Bdx - while their prices are a shade high, once you factor in shipping it's not far off.

As an aside, I opened a 2005 Fonbel last night (also bought from Blanchards $29) and it was my favorite of the three, mostly b/c with a long (3 hour) decant, this was drinkable now.

Peter,

Many thanks for the heads up! I will do so. I'm glad that they did that as I was pretty bummed when they closed the smaller library at route 9/16th.

I'm actually "stuck" in Napa tomorrow so gonna enjoy CA hospitality. Will definitely hit Blanchard's website and then pick up later!

Mike