2005 Benjamin de Sansonnet, St-Emilion

At K&L we love Sansonnet, as it remains one of the finest value chateaux of Bordeaux, especially in superb vintages like 2005. Located at the east end of St-Emilion, on the highest point of the plateau, Sansonnet is neighbor to a few of the great classified growth Bordeaux properties. The d'Aulan acquired the chateau in 1999, and in renovating it, they have pouring many Euros into the winery and vineyards. The exceptional terroir is composed of an argilo-limestone soil, on a rocky subsoil, ideal for quality merlot and cabernet. Forgotten in the past, Sansonnet now takes its legitimate place among the high-class wines of St-Emilion. This 2005 represents another change to the property. The second wine of Sansonnet, sold as Lasalle in Europe, now goes by Benjamin de Sansonnet in the U.S. It's a departure in name only, as the wine continues to amaze with tremendous concentration and depth, layers of black fruits and rich dark chocolate, plus mouth-filling structure and a fine, long finish - easily 90 points in Clyde's book! Buy enough to stock your cellar over the near term; this wine will keep getting better for five or more years.