Chateau Caronne Sainte Gemme 2005

Château Caronne Ste Gemme, Haut Médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2005   

Grapes: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, mostly hand-picked fruit from 45ha of vineyards with deep gravel soils. 12 months ageing in French oak (30% new barrels).

The chateau is located in the St Laurent commune neighbouring St. Julien and is rated as a "Cru Bourgeois" property.

A fully mature wine, 2005 was an exceptional vintage in the Haut-Médoc with a hot, dry summer producing thick-skinned grapes with plenty of ripe tannins. A nose of black fruits, cassis and a touch of vanilla. Rounded on the palate with a silky finish.

Ratings: 91 points Wine Spectator, 2008

90 points Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast, June 2008: "Considerable depth of flavor here, with complex ripe tannins, topping the dense black fruits. There's spice from the wood, some stalky tannins from the fruit, and an edge that will need 3-4 years to show its potential."

16.5/20 Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com, May 2010: "Bold plum fruit, very classic tannic structure, really requiring some more time to relax and mature. Dark chocolate, coffee and currants linger on the finish" (RH)