2005 Wines

2005 is an excellent vintage for multiple regions, with numerous wines firmly in their peak-drinking stage 20 years after original bottling. From the quadruple 100-point Chateau Pavie and Cheval Blanc releases to the 100-point Schrader CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon, each wine from 2005 provides an incredible glimpse into one of winemaking’s strongest years.

2005 Bordeaux Vintage

2005 is universally known as a strong vintage in Bordeaux winemaking, with age-worthy and elegant releases from both Left Bank and Right Bank producers. In his review of the vintage, famed critic Jeb Dunnuck noted 2005 as “an exceptional, singular year of blockbuster, powerful wines” for Bordeaux winemakers. The growing season started with very dry weather, leaving winemakers to wonder if it would be a difficult year. Thankfully, small amounts of rain poured down at the right moments, with August and September especially seeing heavy rainfall. Because of the early season dryness, the harvest period was prolonged, allowing winemakers to wait until the fruit was fully ripe before picking with no rush. The season’s cool nights and warm days made for high tannin levels with lots of fruitiness to balance it out.

The results were highly impressive, as estates like Bellevue Mondotte, Troplong, Lafite, and more produced 100-point stunners that caught the eye of top critics and collectors from around the world. The 2005 Cheval Blanc bottle gained exceptional acclaim, gaining four different perfect 100-point ratings. Jeb Dunnuck again made an outstanding claim, writing: “An absolute legend of a wine, the 2005 Château Cheval Blanc is up there with the greatest wines ever made.”

2005 Napa Valley Wines

2005 Napa wines are considered an excellent vintage, producing higher yields than usual. The growing season began with lots of rain and soggy, wet winter weather before transitioning into a damp spring that saw sporadic rainfall. Cool conditions ushered in the summer, however, cold weather from earlier months delayed the harvest. Most vineyards weren’t picked until November - unusual for Napa estates - though it allowed for higher yields than normal.

The 2005 vintage is considered a “European style of vintage” by publications like Vinous Media due to the wines’ “verve and flavor definition.” Robert Parker mirrored this sentiment writing that the 2005 Harlan Estate tasted “akin to a hypothetical Pauillac blended with a great Pessac-Léognan from Bordeaux.” Ultimately, Cabernet Sauvignon was the vintage’s dominant varietal, as Dominus and Shafer produced Napa’s top wines of the vintage. Robert Parker was among the critics who were undecided, giving both wines 99 points. In his respective reviews, he named the 2005 Dominus “one of the vintage’s greatest wines” while also stating, “One of the world’s great wines and profound expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon, is the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select.”

2005 Italian Wines

2004 was praised as one of Italy’s greatest-ever vintages, leading to immense hype and expectations for the 2005 vintage. Unfortunately, this year did not quite live up to expectations due to poor weather creating difficult growing conditions, though, the top producers from the country still managed to create elegant wines that many enthusiasts still seek out.

The 2005 Italian vintage began with a cold winter, seeing lots of rainfall which heavily affected high-altitude regions like Chianti Classico and Montalcino. Estates near the coast, however, were less affected due to their hot and dry microclimates opposed to the cool temperatures inland. The summer months had little warm weather, as July brought a hot period that quickly cooled in August and September. For most growers, the harvest ended between September 14th and 30th, when they experienced last-minute hail and rain, affecting the final crops. Ultimately, Super Tuscans came out on top with solid vintages from Solaia, Masseto, and Sassicaia.

Described as “accessible, medium-bodied wines” by Vinous Magazine, the wines did not live up to Italy’s high-powered 2004 vintage but still had quality showings. Solaia, in particular, gained praise from the Wine Spectator, stating the drink was “a complex and wonderfully structured red.” Ultimately, 2005 Italian wines, namely the Super Tuscans, are not to be slept on, representing quality value for collectors to add to their cellars.

Add A 2005 Bottle Wine to Your Collection

Check out our diverse, high-quality collection of wines from the 2005 vintage across Napa, Bordeaux, Tuscany, and more! Celebrate 20 years of vinous excellence with a bottle today.