2005 Chambertin
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Tasting notes
Much darker than Latricières. Tar, liquorice, molasses richness – magnificent in its multi-layered complexity. Remarkable finess on the palate too. All we need do is wait and wait because the wine has merely got to the stage of preparatory press-ups – no actual performance in view for quite a while. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Leroy’s 2005 Chambertin (like her Musigny and Clos Vougeot, from three parcels) leads with a knockout punch of super-concentrated, liqueur-like black raspberry, cassis, and licorce, rose petal (no, make that the whole rose garden!), and deep, roasted meatiness. Monumentally dense, yet vibrant and energetic, this builds momentum on the palate as it adds black pepper, tactile cinnamon spice, and distilled fruit and herb concentration. I have seldom experienced such a literal (not to mention phenomenally long) finish: it simply wiped the floor with your humble critic. If I were ever to encounter this wine in the ring again, I pray that it won’t be for at least a decade (and that it spots me 98 points). Importer: Martine’s Wines. Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400
Bright, deep ruby-red. Wild, highly complex nose offers dark fruits, nuts, meat and underbrush. Suave and silky on entry, then dense and chewy in the middle, with a smoky suggestion of earth. This expands impressively toward the back, finishing with wonderfully fine tannins and great building length. The longest of these wines today, along with the Romanee-Saint-Vivant. And concentrated enough to go on for decades.
About the producer
For many, Domaine Leroy represents the pinnacle of fine Burgundy. Owned and run by the legendary Lalou Bize-Leroy, the domaine in Vosne-Romanée is one strand of the Leroy empire, along with Maison Leroy and Domaine d’Auvenay.