2005 Ch. du Tertre, Margaux

This is very Margaux in style, and also quite powerful and modern. The Cabernet Franc was particularly good this year - and very ripe - and there is an unusually large percentage in the blend. An intense, exotic almost Port-like nose leads on to a palate with rich fruitcake flavours, sweet, concentrated raspberries and cream and hints of chocolate. The finish is sexy, rounded and mouthwatering and made in a way that you don't want to end. There is 15% less of the 2005 than the 2004, with the yield down to a mean 42hl/ha, and for the price, this is a must.

Even in the highly acclaimed 2005 vintage, Du Tertre remains under most consumer’s radar. Made by essentially the same winemaking team as Giscours, this cuvee exhibits a dense purple color, followed by earthy, truffle, smoky blackberry, floral, and cassis aromas. It is a beautifully pure, medium to full-bodied wine with abundant but sweet tannin, fine opulence, a multilayered texture, and a long finish that is neither aggressive nor astringent. Cellar it for another 3-4 years, and consume it over the following 20-25.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - 01-Apr-2008)