Angelo Casagrande

9.0

Steely, slate and stone. Not a ton of fruit. Very light on its feet. Like me. — a month ago

Carly

8.9

The best! Lunch in Burgundy and also at Roy’s 42nd! — 4 years ago

Aura Novembre

9.5

At Suriya and Magali, Massaman curry — 5 years ago

Michael Piaker

9.3

15 June 2018. Discovery Wines, New York, NY. — 6 years ago

Guillermo Gonzalez

8.9

Bordeaux blend from Gascony, aged 14 years in oak foudres. Cherry and raspberry, leather. Dry, with long drawn tannins. Perfect with fall veg pot pie. — 2 years ago

Kathryn McCarty

9.0

Pouilly Fume - tastes of slate and smoke. Not any citrus notes. — 5 years ago

Jessica Randolph

8.9

No bubbles but solid. Not dry — 6 years ago

Aura Novembre

9.7

Fruity smoothness at dinner with Lucy, Eric, Suriya and Magali — 6 years ago

Kathryn Vest

9.2

Low key berry on the nose. Went great with mussels, pan seared branzino with cauliflower rice and fried shrimp. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

We met & visited a number of Bordeaux producers while 2005 was still in the tank or just into barrel.

In talking with Winemaker-Owners about the 2005 vintage, you could see the twinkle in their eye as they were asked questions. They knew they had Bordeaux magic for the first time in five years.

We tasted this at what was deemed an “Affordable Bordeaux Tasting.” This was on the higher end of that tasting at $35. It is delivering a little better than its young expectation and the jewel to date from that tasting.

With and without protein, the 05 Chateau de Candale moved between 92-93.

The nose reveals; warm alcohol, immersed fruits of; black raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, dark cherries, poached/slightly baked, dark cherries, dark spices, purple fruit, cola mix, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dark, rich, candied, forest floor, fresh & dry tobacco, graphite, slight, moist clay, stones, dry, crushed rock chunks, whiff of bay leaf & sage, dry stems, pepper quality with candied, dark, dark red, purple, blue with violets & lavender.

This is a very good first look at this 2005. God willing, I have another look in on bottle two of three in another five years. This 05 has another 15 plus years of good drinking ahead with proper storage.

The body is full, tarry with big, sticky, chewy tannins. Baked/poached, floral fruits of; black raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, dark cherries, black plum, pomegranate, dark spices with a heavy, heated presence, purple fruit, cola mix, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dark, rich, candied, forest floor, fresh & dry tobacco, loads of graphite, slight, moist clay, stones, dry, crushed rock chunks, dry top soils, whiff of bay leaf & sage, dry stems, muted eucalyptus, pepper quality with candied, dark, dark red, purple, blue with violets & lavender. The acidity is round & full just holding, for me, the slightly higher ABV in check. The long, heavy, dark, well knitted, more earth/spice dominated finish is showing the quality of the vintage. Yet, it still needs more time to be its best.

Photos of; Chateau de Candale, harvested Merlot fruit, recent buyers of Chateau de Candale - Thibaut Decoster and Magali Decoster and their barrel room. — 4 years ago