2005 Château Monbrison

56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Bought by an American, Robert Davis, in 1921 and now run by third-generation Laurent Vonderheyden. Monbrison is only a small estate of 13ha, but its reputation is growing bigger every year due the obvious quality of its wines and the personal charm and dynamism of Laurent. Pure, restrained dark fruit. Plenty of grip and surprisingly fluid in the middle. Could do with a little more flesh in the middle but finishes fresh and long. Less complete than the Blason d'Issan at this stage. (JH)

Author: Julia Harding MW

Delivers aromas of raspberry, blackberry and coffee. Full-bodied, soft and caressing, with pretty ripe fruit and a lovely balance of ripe tannins, toasty oak and ripe fruit. Friendlier than the 2000.

Author: James Suckling

Good medium ruby. High-toned aromas of boysenberry and violet. Solid, meaty and a bit chunky, with very good sweetness of fruit. More pliant than many recent vintages of this Margaux. Finishes with firm tannins and notes of black fruits and licorice.

Author: Stephen Tanzer

Issue: May/June 2006