2005 Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

Very perfumed nose of red and black fruits, almost exotic. Gorgeous texture on the palate fills the mouth, sumptuous. Great intensity, abundant but ripe tannins, very long. Magnificent.

In the words of Robert Parker, 'A strong argument can be made that this great First Growth is the world's most elegant and aromatically complex wine'. In 2005 it lives up to such an exulted billing. An intoxicating bouquet of sun-kissed red and black cherries abounds with hints of roasted coffee bean and mocha. This is a brooding, sleeping giant of a wine with monumental levels of fruit but an exquisitely fine demeanour. Intense and mouthfilling with wonderful length, it has all the classic earthy mineral Haut Brion richness that you would expect. This is power and elegance par excellence.

Berry Bros. & Rudd