2005 Balthus

(100% merlot cropped at 15 hectoliters per hectare and fermented entirely in barriques Full ruby. Ripe, pure aromas of black fruits, violet, espresso, mocha and licorice. Rich, chewy and superconcentrated, with noteworthy precision to the plump flavors of black cherry, cassis, violet and dark chocolate. This appears to have the sheer strength of mid-palate material to support its substantial ripe tannins. Finishes long and strong. Impressive juice. This is an all-merlot cuvee made by Yves Vatelot, owner of Reignac, and the best young vintage of this wine I have tasted to date.

Author: Stephen Tanzer

Issue: May/June 2006

This luxury cuvee from Reignac's proprietor Yves Vatelot is 100% Merlot fermented in little cigar new oak barrels. It emerges from 7.5 acres of the Reignac vineyard, situated on clay, limestone and gravel soils. The wine, which spent 19 months in 100% new oak, is a 1,000-case cuvee bottled unfined and unfiltered. Extremely youthful at age 10 (tasting more like it's two or three years old), this chocolaty wine, with notes of espresso roast, black cherry liqueur and cassis, is full-bodied, powerful, young, rich and a progressive, modern style of wine, but loaded with character and richness. It needs another several years of bottle age and should drink well for at least two decades.

Drink Dates: 2018-2038

Author: Robert Parker