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Dense ruby/purple and still youthful and exuberant, with oodles of cassis and incense, the 2005 Lafon-Rochet is medium to full-bodied, with ripe tannin and a long finish. Just becoming approachable, this wine should continue to drink well for another 10-15 years.Robert Parker | 91 RPGood red-ruby. Very ripe aromas of musky currant , black raspberry, camphor and tobacco leaf. Round and plump for St. Estephe, with noteworthy volume and seamless texture; sweeter by far than the chateau’s 2007 or 2006 samples but possesses harmonious framing acidity. Finishes with broad tannins that arrive late. A big success.Vinous Media | 91 VMA sweet violet aroma adds to this wine’s finesse while gravelly tannins give it a classical St-Estèphe profile. It feels sleek, firm and finely crafted, with meaty density of fruit that will sustain it for years to come.Wine & Spirits | 91 W&SA textbook St-Estèphe of the old school, the Lafon-Rochet was a bit reserved on the attack, but gradually a high-toned red fruit with floral notes and a hint of spice developed on the palate. The texture was firmly tannic, and the acidity was fresh, but the youthful, structured wine won over many tasters with the promise of potential for aging. The blend is 44% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Merlot with cameo appearances from Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. (Drink between 2021-2040).Decanter | 91 DECHas notes of blackberry, with Indian spices and green tea. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins, a silky texture and a medium finish. Balanced and very refined. A beautiful young wine. Best after 2011.Wine Spectator | 90 WSWhile there are superripe fruit aromas, the structure of this wine is totally solid. Somewhere lurking under the shell is huge black fruit, but now it is dark and very dry.Wine Enthusiast | 90 WE

Open-knit yet deep and powerful, the 2005 Les Forts de Latour is striking today. The pedigree of the vintage comes through in spades. Expressive, perfumed aromatics meld into a core of supple, open-knit fruit in a mid-weight, impeccably balanced Forts de Latour. Hints of red fruit, iron, smoke and tobacco add lovely shades of nuance. Latour's President Frédéric Engerer adds that that 2005 was the easiest and most balanced growing season (including 2009 and 2010) he has seen because his team had the total flexibility of choosing when to harvest.Vinous Media | 94 VMShows blackberry, coffee, cedar, and raisin on the nose, turning to licorice and fresh flowers. Full-bodied, with refined, silky tannins and a long finish. Balanced and juicy. Builds on the palate, with currant, licorice and mineral character, followed by a powerful finish. An amazing second wine. Best after 2015. 13,330 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WSAlways the equivalent of many classed growths, Les Forts de Latour is hardly a second wine, deriving from a particular parcel of the Latour vineyard. This 2005 is beautifully balanced, with lively fresh acidity, dense tannins and ripe, juicy black fruits. The acidity stays right to the end.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WE