2005 is a legendary Bordeaux vintage. I have a dozen or so bottles stored away and this is the first I have opened. Chateau Cap de Faugeres is in Cote de Castillon on the right bank. Cote de Castillon doesn’t have the reputation of the big-name regions in Bordeaux but that is why you can get good wines like this for relatively cheap. It has a special significance for us because Jennie and I had the 2003 the first time we were in Paris together. I recently finished the last of my 2003 stash, and that was an excellent investment at $22/bottle.
Based on this bottle I am sold on 2005. On the nose there is massive fruit. Blackberries and black cherries. Some smoke and a little oak. The nose is really explosive. And the color of this wine blew me away. Then the taste. Really rich fruit, big tannins, nicely integrated oak. Excellent structure. Everything you expect from the nose and then some roasted coffee tied in with the tannins on the finish. As expected, the tannins are still pretty rough so I will leave the rest of my 2005’s for at least a few more years, but now I know what I am in for. And I think I will buy a few more.
Update: 24 hours on, the wine is noticeably more refined. The bold black fruit now leans toward the red. The tannins are softer and the acidity comes to the fore. The wine is delicious.
Cheap Talk 
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May 9, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Charlotte
Hi Jeff,
Have you ever gone to the Old willow wine shoppe in Glenview (on willow near old landfill). The owner is Deb, the place is more like a warehouse and it’s the only place to buy wine on the Northshore. Owner really knows her wine.
Charlotte