Description
94 Points Allen Meadows
Deep ruby color. Even at 14 years of age this remains quite reserved with its brooding and still mostly primary aromas of black cherry and violets that are nuanced by hints of spice, menthol and warm earth. There is impressive scale to the big, powerful and well-muscled flavors that are underpinned by excellent mid-palate concentration and dense but fine tannins, all wrapped in a dazzling long, dusty and cool finish that is perfectly balanced. This will clearly require time to completely unfold but there is so much palate-coating dry extract that this is one of those ’05s that you could actually enjoy now just for the velvety mouth feel.
93-94 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2005 Bonnes Mares marries black and red raspberries with fresh- sorbet- and liquer-like aspects alternating on a quite refined, polished, and (for this cru) seemingly less-savage than usual palate. Myriad herbs and spices mingle with the fruit and suggestions of wood smoke, horehound and sassafras emerge along with the sweet raspberries in a lingering finish that administers a considerable lashing of fine tannin and displays a sappy, resinous, faintly peppery cling. This is certainly the alter ego of this year’s cool, floral, tender Amoureuses.