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Average Scores of all Estates within a Region

The above chart represents the average of the scores gathered by all the Bordeaux wineries by wine growing region (AOC in French). This table is expressed on a relative 100 scale. Thus, the regions are compared in relative to the best region with a 100 points value. For more details on a specific chateau, please use our search engine at the right hand's side of each page. This tool is extremely useful to pick the best wines at Bordeaux Futures offerings and wine auctions.  

2005 started with relatively quiet and cool winter months. In the absence of such calamities as frost, hail, or a plague of locusts, the key meteorological parameters for the vintage were rainfall, sunshine and temperatures. Eleven of the twelve months from November 2004 to October 2005 were below average for rainfall (April being the exception); the overall figure of 476mm being 48% below the norm. 

This deficiency had the positive effect of concentrating the grapes by reducing the juice to skins ratio. Happily most of the negative aspects of drought were avoided thanks to useful showers at the right time - April for the budding, late May to encourage the flowering, 27th-28th July to kick-start véraison, 8th-12th September to refresh the Merlot on the eve of final ripening and the same for the Cabernets on the 25th.

While the rain was not falling, the sun was shining, encouraging unprecedented degrees in all grapes. Yet despite the hours of sunshine, the heat was never excessive as it had been in 2003. Only June ( 2.7º) and beneficially October ( 3.0º) were much above the monthly average. August and September were approximately the norm, and indeed the cool nights leading into harvest maintained acidity and has given the wines a striking and welcome freshness. (Simon Staples)

Flowering started on time in the beginning of June and passed quickly and without any problems. There were no problems whatsoever with ripening process of the grapes and these weren’t disturbed either up to or during the harvest of known and unknown maladies. At the time of the harvest, grapes were simply perfect, small ones with thick skins, full of aromas, concentrated juice and tannin. Both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon had reached unusually high sugar content, corresponding to 14-15% alcohol in Merlot and 12.5-13% alcohol in Cabernet Sauvignon. (Izak Litwar)

The words “Legendary vintage” may as well be printed on the back label of the 2005 Bordeaux wine bottles, as it seems the usual few years cellaring required to confirm the early indications are not called for this year. (Will Gardener)

Bordeaux 2005 is marked by the outstanding quality for all type of varietals. The grape varieties in Bordeaux have ripened just perfectly. The red grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, or the white grapes of Semillon and Sauvignon (dry and sweet) were all picked in perfect condition and timing,

Our classification show that the Sauternes Barsac appellation was the most successful region this year. The average scores of all the properties of the area reached a record average of 89.3 which is truly an amazing result given the number of wineries (27).  
The other excelling appellation in 2005 is Saint-Julien - for which its now legendary regularity is once again rewarded. These areas are closely followed by Pauillac and Pomerol. Saint Emilion and Pessac-Leognan Graves  are posting excellent overall performances too in 2005. After two cult vintages (2002 and 2003), Saint-Estephe seems to join back the rank this year. Margaux probably produced among the best wines of the vintage, but the overall results of the area are somewhat inconsistant. The overall performance of Medoc, Listrac, Moulis, Haut-Medoc and another Satellites Right bank areas, although showing excellent results, are slightly below of the general average.

This year, 52 estates have averaged 90+ scores. Such a high number has never been noted before! In comparison, only 31 properties had excelled in 2004, 34 in 2003, 22 in 2002, 17 in 2001, 28 in 2000 and 19 in 1999. The Standard deviation's measurements of scores are remarkably low, meaning that a wide consensus was often found within the critics about a wine's quality.

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Interestingly, the 2005 vintage is the one where prices are the most sensitive to ratings. The rating premium doubles in percentage terms over the situation in previous good years. For more details, please read our stastistical analysis on actual and predicted prices.

2005 is as unique as any vintage. There are no strong comparisons to make with the wines of the past decade or so. Certainly, the best of the reds are very powerful and well endowed with all the necessary component parts to promote great wines. Tannins are abundant, lacy and generally ripe giving exceptionally silky textures and packed mid-palates. The fruit is very concentrated offering great aromatics, which are pure and focused. Ripe vintages are often dogged by low acidity. This is where 2005 may be taking quality to a different level, many wines displayed a piercing rod of acidity, lifting the whole vinous experience and helping to carry the complex flavours in the wines into their exceptional finishes. 

The integration of these component parts will be a joy to behold as the wines evolve. Many of the great wines tasted are potentially the best wines made at individual chateaux in the past decade and will find few rivals much further back in the wine libraries of connoisseurs.

2005 will be recognised for longevity, some wines will be alive and kicking into the twenty second century, however, this does not mean that the wines will not be enjoyable early in their lives. Alain Vautier at Chateau Ausone drew a comparison with the 1982 vintage commenting the best vintages are attractive to drink throughout their lives, 2005 is one such vintage.  (Will Gardener)

Winemega's precise and mathematical approach provides the most objective wine picking recommendations in total independence.


Alain Bringolf for Winemega.com

Thanks to the following Contributors for their comments on the vintage:
- Simon Staples
- Izak Litwar
- Will Gardener 

Related topics

Bordeaux 2005 - TOP absolute classification

Bordeaux 2005 - TOP Quality to Price picks by region 

Bordeaux 2005 - Our statistical analysis

Bordeaux 2005 harvest

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