94

Neal Martin

Vinous

The 2005 Rauzan-Ségla is a vintage that I have enjoyed many times. At 13-years of age it has a very intense bouquet with cedar and mint aromas infusing the black fruit, here with a touch of shaved black truffle that I have not noticed before. The palate is medium-bodied but more muscular than other vintages, yet the sinew is cloaked under its disarming silky texture. There is enormous depth and width to this Margaux and it is beginning to manifest a lovely balsamic "kick" on the persistent finish. Superb - but it is going to get better. Tasted at Goedhuis & Co's charity dinner 2005 tasting. April 2019

98

Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

The first-growth 2005 Château Margaux (85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot), a lavish fragrance of blackcurrants, velvety new saddle leather, spring flowers and spice soars from the glass. The wood is already totally concealed beneath the cascade of fruit in this medium to full-bodied, pure and majestic wine. This concentrated, dense, but nevertheless strikingly elegant, multi-layered wine has a finish of 45+ seconds. It builds incrementally to a crescendo and finale. This is a stunner that can be approached already, but promises to be better in another 5-10 years and last at least 25 or more years. Juni 2015

100

James Suckling

James Suckling

The nose on this seems more concentrated than the 2000, and the purity of fruit is stunning, with blueberries, raspberries, fresh flowers, and hints of licorice. This is perfect and complete. Full bodied, with notes of forest berries and wild raspberries, this is thick and velvety with perfectly polished tannins. You can really feel the density on this, more than the tannic structure. This is a sleeping beauty that will be utterly captivating when it awakes. Don't touch this until after 2015. November 2010