2005 Barde-Haut, St-Emilion

Good full ruby-red. Explosive ripe aromas of redcurrant, minerals, chocolate mint and tomato. Large-scaled, voluptuous and sweet, with very intense berry and chocolate flavors lifted by minerals, menthol and spices. Finishes with wonderfully broad tannins and an extremely long finish that leaves the palate vibrating. From a very cold terroir (the soil is clay over rocky limestone) that takes longer to warm up each day, but in 2005 this vineyard obviously reached near-perfect ripeness. Offers an exciting combination of thickness and depth with lift. (6/2008)

Sylvie Garcin’s 2005 Barde-Haut comes from 42-plus acres of vineyard and is dominated by Merlot, with a good healthy dose of Cabernet Franc. It displays notes of chalk, crushed rock, blackcurrants and black cherries. It is a big, masculine style of wine from the Garcin family that has still not attained its plateau of maturity. In spite of the tannins, structure is not an issue with this wine, but it needs time to come around. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2030. (RP) (6/2015)

Displays aromas of tobacco, berry, chocolate and spice. Full-bodied, with sweet fruit, silky tannins and a spicy currant aftertaste. Best after 2012. (JS) (3/2008)

Very good balance, elegant tannins, no sharp edges, a lot of style, excellently made. (4/2006)

Very sweet and opulent on the nose, with juicy fruit - a successful modern style. A beginning, middle and end. Not nearly ready but with lots of 2005 ripeness followed by sappy tannins. 16/20 (8/2009)