Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 2005

No tasting note given.

This wine has a sumptuous nose, packed with rich stone-fruit aromas and a hint of honey. It’s sleek and textured, fresh and silky, not excessively sweet, and has a welcome elegance rather than power. It seemed a touch lean a few years ago, but has put on a bit of weight and opulence. Long.

This is powerful and racy with lots of class. Full-bodied, very sweet, with plenty of spicy botrytis character. Intense. Drink or hold.

Tasted blind. Mid copper. Very sweet start. Flattering and rich. Clean and direct. Dense. (JR)

The 2005 Lafaurie-Peyraguey has a slightly waxy bouquet with dried honey, fig and light petrol scents. Fine delineation. The palate has a very well balanced entry and plenty of botrytis in situ, with a tangy, stem ginger- and lemongrass-infused finish that lingers in the mouth. This was impressive several years ago but has gone up another level. Superb. Tasted at the 2005 Sauternes horizontal held at Château Coutet.

Lacking the depth and concentration found in the best vintages of Lafaurie Peyraguey, the wine focuses on its apricot, floral, honey, spice, vanilla and orange marmalade perfume. Soft, sweet and ready, the finish serves up sweet, bright, tropical fruits with orange honey in the end notes.

Medium deep golden colour. Sweet nose of honey, pear, quince and vanilla. The palate is dense with a slightly evolved sweetness, good grip and density, some roasted notes, well balanced with grip and power, long and lingering finish.

The 2005 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey is certainly outstanding, and it's probably in the middle of its prime drinking window. Grilled apricots, honeyed orange, grilled bread, and subtle caramelized peach notes all define the bouquet, and it's medium-bodied, with a pure, layered, elegant texture, plenty of sweetness, and sufficient acidity to keep this clean, lively, and incredibly enjoyable. It will evolve for another 10-15 years, but it's terrific today.

Medium yellow. On the nose, pure Sauternes: apricots, honey, saffron, mirabelle plums, chamomile, showing a rich, expansive bouquet. On the palate, liqueur-like, creamy, with an opulent, mouth-filling texture that remains elegant despite the tremendous richness; a thick, almost oily, endless finish.

Velvety, creamy bouquet, raisins, orangeade, almond cream. A more velvety, finely spicy, creamy palate with good sweetness, a finely opulent structure, long, creamy finish. Can improve further. 18/20 drink - 2034

The 2005 Lafaurie-Peyraguey has a pale to medium gold color. Wow—the nose absolutely pops with floral notes of jasmine and honeysuckle, leading to a core of mint tea, underbrush, and lemon pastilles, plus hints of lime leaves and chalk dust. The palate reveals fragrant/minty notes, with just enough freshness and a long, energetic finish.

Well-inspired Sauternes-like bouquet with many facets, featuring notes of saffron, crème brûlée and apricot. Smoky and floral character, with a mineral touch. Creamy on the palate, where I detect popcorn aromas. Long, persistent finish.

In magnum. Wine below my expectations.

06, barrel sample: medium yellow. On the nose, pure Sauternes, apricots, honey, saffron, mirabelles, chamomile, showing a rich, expansive bouquet. On the palate, truly liqueur-like, creamy, opulent texture, mouth-filling, remaining elegant despite its enormous richness, thick, almost oily, endless finish. 06: Tasted again in autumn. This will be a very great, rich, generous Lafaurie! 07: a sweet-wine drug, almost thick and oily. A full-figured, Rubens-like sweet-wine dream. (19/20). 14: Simply beautiful, everything is right and one can look forward to decades of pleasure. (19/20). 16: At the moment it has “thickened” again due to its richness, so better to wait.

84-86 Barrel sample. Firm and ripe, with dry botrytis dominating the spice, this is an uncomfortably hot wine, packed with flavors that are somewhat overblown.