Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Medium lemon color with aromas of stone and citrus fruits and floral spice notes. On the palate flavors of apple, apricot, melon and lemon citrus, vanilla and toasty spice, rich texture. Medium+ finish, lively acidity, ending with fruit, oak, toasty spice and citrus character. — 2 months ago

DE

8.9

It was big but not as complex as earlier vintages. It has some more growth to come but tasting good early on. — 3 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

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2019 vintage. Big and brooding from being disturbed during hibernation. Medium-heavy body. Pretty nose and a smoking profile. Sexy in an earthy, grounded way. Decanted and tasted after 30 mins and 2 hours post-decant. Still super-tight but all the promise of pleasure is there for the long game/cellar. Focus and push for decades. Would like to revisit in five years. 7.30.23. — a year ago

Byron Hewett

9.5

Big, rich with more structure than the 2007 St. Prefert Reserve Auguste Favier. Deeper too. Outstanding CdP. — 3 years ago

Paul K

8.9

RP 95 and WE 93 This is good. It has a great nose, it’s well balanced, and has good structure, may be a bit simple, but sometimes I love that. There’s a purity of fruit that I like as well. I just don’t love the profile. I wanted to, but there is an earthiness / mushroom that was out of place IMO. Both on the nose and palate. Great deal on this right now and I was going to pick up volume (I’m stocking up on ‘16’s, think it’s gonna pay off big) just not on this one. Please give me a hollar if you have this and think it’s great. — 5 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.8

2010 Vintage. 15.2% Alcohol. Big bramble fruit and great nose. Loved it. — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Enjoyed at our friend’s on the Big Island for NYE dinner. Dark and opaque. Rich in the mouth. Notes of black fruit, slate stone, some menthol and some five spice. In a good window. — a year ago

Ericsson

9.5

#1000 at home, finally!

This is big, broad and bold. Hundred percent cab aged in seventy-five percent new French Oak. Limited production to just over two hundred cases.

Visibly the wine is a deep ruby color with a tight rim.

The nose is intense with dark fruit, cassis, coffee, dark chocolate, but also earthy humid forest aromas.

The mouthfeel is luxurious and enveloping with the perfectly ripe dark fruit, just a touch of dried spices, vanilla, oak, and a long savory earthy finish. The wine is dry, full bodied, ultra smooth with round but persistent tannings with medium plus alcohol and medium acidity.

Absolutely love wine… Cheers all! — 2 years ago

James P Grover

8.9

Blackberry and plum aroma. In the mouth it’s heavier, spicier, and hotter. It brings in wood, black pepper, and pretty strong acidity. It might settle down with some air. But first impressions is that it’s big and interesting, and a good value. — 5 years ago