2005 d'Armailhac and 2009 Bourgneuf

[AlexR]

2005 d’Armailhac: Like most BWEers, I keep a cellar book. But sometimes I make mistakes. Wines I think are there are not, and vice versa.
On Sunday, I targeted a 2006 Ch. d’Armailhac in my Excel file and went down to fetch it. However, when I pulled the wine out of its honeycomb, it turned out to be a 2005. Generally speaking, I leave my 2005 great growths alone for the moment, but I thought “what the heck”, and opened it.
I decanted it 2 hours before the meal.
The wine proved to be squarely in its drinking window, on its plateau, whatever you want to call it. The bouquet was classic Pauillac and the wine was fruity with resolved tannins on the palate. This was a real crowd pleaser of a wine, perhaps without the depth and gravitas of the very best, but classy and voluptuous in a restrained Médoc kind of way.
The two fifth growths from the Mouton stable rarely disappoint. Real stalwarts, they are almost always good value for money.
As an aside, I once had a great one: the 1982 Clerc Milon.

2009 Bourgneuf: I have visited this estate in Pomerol three times with fellow forumite Izak Litwar. In fact, he gave me this bottle as a gift. Frédérique (feminine) Vayron is a young go-ahead winemaker who does good work. Some 2009 Right Bankers are top-heavy and overly alcoholic, but that was not the case with this Bourgneuf which showed very well, despite its 14° alcohol, although before peak. The wine was more expressive on the palate than the nose, which was nevertheless attractive. It started out rich and unctuous on the palate and then, just when you think it might be a whorish kind of wine, it spreads out, reveals another dimension, and finishes with good characterful tannin. Very satisfying and not stratospherically priced.

Best regards,
Alex R.

[AKR]

I too like Bourgneuf more than professionals seem to.

[jckba]

The two fifth growths from the Mouton stable rarely disappoint. Real stalwarts, they are almost always good value for money.

Couldn’t agree anymore.

[JimHow]

Clerc Milon and d'Armailhac.. Two great Pauillacs, the greatest appelation in Bordeaux, indeed, the world.

[Blanquito]

Loved the 05 d’Armailhac in 2015, last time I had it. The phrase “best ever”crossed my mind at the time...

[Ianjaig]

Had some friends round last night and coincidently, we also opened up a 2009 Bourgneuf. I liked this very much, was very refined and beautifully balanced. I'm glad that I have added some 14s and 16s to my cellar.

A 2005 Jean Faure was another wine opened - surprisingly tannic with more time left on its side. The high Cab Franc was noticeable.