2005 Château La Tour-Figeac

The 2005 La Tour Figeac is silky, gracious and so expressive. Red-toned fruit, mocha, cinnamon and flowers give the 2005 a good deal of aromatic lift to match its mid-weight personality. The finish narrows just a bit, but this is still a very pleasing, nuanced Saint-Émilion. At this point I would not push my luck too much on aging. The 2005 is a gorgeous wine that shows the more delicate side of Saint-Émilion. (AG)

Tasted blind. Very dark blackish crimson. Looks very youthful and has an intense dried fruit nose. Sumptuous texture – tannins very worked – but just a slight lack of intensity of flavour on the palate. Slightly stringy tannins on the end. (JR)

The 2005 La Tour Figeac is a stunner of a wine from proprietor Otto Rettenmaier. (The wife of Stéphane Derenoncourt is the consulting winemaker). The estate, which sits on the Pomerol border on what is called the Graves of St.-Emilion, has produced a wine dominated by Merlot, followed by Cabernet Franc. Absolutely extraordinary and one of their great successes, this 2005 is a sleeper of the vintage. Opaque purple, it possesses a beautiful nose of licorice, forest floor, blackberry and cassis fruit. Full-bodied and opulent, with sweet tannin, it is approachable, but with considerable upside still remaining. This wine should continue to drink well for another 15 or more years.