Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Haut Brion
Label Name:
 
Pessac Leognan 1er Cru
Vintage:
 
2005
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Pessac-Léognan (Graves), Bordeaux
Volume:
 
1500ml
ABV:
 
14%
Grape(s):
 
Merlot 56%, Cabernet Sauvignon 39%, Cabernet Franc 5%
Method:
 
Hand-harvested; temperature-controlled fermentation with extended maceration; matured c.16–20 months in French oak (reported 100% new oak for the 2005), blended and bottled after racking and fining.
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18
Tasting Note:
 
Dense blackcurrant, cassis and black cherry with smoked tobacco, graphite, liquorice and floral lift; silky, ripe yet firmly structured tannins, vivid mineral acidity and an epic, tobacco-tinged finish.
Food Pairing:
 
Western: roast lamb, ribeye, beef Wellington, aged hard cheeses; Asian: Peking duck, char siu, miso-glazed dishes, mushroom hotpot, Korean bulgogi.
Vineyard Info:
 
Historic estate owned by Clarence Dillon since 1935; 51 ha in Pessac-Léognan. Jean‑Philippe Delmas led winemaking in 2005; family-run Domaine Clarence Dillon with long heritage and modern cellar practices.
Awards/Ratings:
 
Universal acclaim: Robert Parker/Wine Advocate 100, Lisa Perrotti-Brown 100, Jeb Dunnuck 100, James Suckling 100, Antonio Galloni 99+/100, Jane Anson 99–100, Jancis Robinson 19/20; historically listed among the top wines of the 2005 vintage