Château de Camensac 2005

Cherries, cedar, earth and tobacco scents open to a medium to full-bodied wine that is on the austere side.

Very dark, deep garnet with violet highlights. Intense bouquet showing spicy, blueberry Cabernet notes, nice depth, cleanly focused. On the palate, dense and well-supported, creamy tannins, a tightly knit finish. New team with better wines than their predecessors. Very promising, could even gain another point.

Slim, hollow bouquet with red berries, apple juice. Medium-bodied palate with moderate fruit, lots of dry tannins. Thin finish. 16/20 2010 - 2025

Oyster shell and undergrowth notes on the nose, this has depth through the mid-palate, earthy with waves of rose petal and fennel together with autumnal blackberry fruit that add complexity. This is a 2005 that is ready to drink, with melted tannins that are more advanced than some 1855s in the vintage. Captures the balance and quality of the year, and is thoroughly charming. Michel Rolland consultant, this is the first year under Céline Villars-Foubet and Jean Merlaut as owners, but they were not present for the growing season. Harvest September 26 to October 12. 60% new oak. Gerard Bouquinet technical director.

A round wine with very pleasant, almost crunchy fruit, rare for the vintage but lacking a bit of density and energy.

Deep dark red color. Good intensity. Purple hue. The nose is rather lively. On the palate, the wine unfolds with roundness, offering plenty of fruit and flavor mid-palate. The finish shows present but tasty tannins. Lovely length.

This is the redemption vintage: while the wine has the year’s richness, it still lacks suavity and suppleness through the mid-palate. Angular tannins.

Very dark, deep garnet with violet highlights. Intense bouquet showing spicy, blueberry Cabernet notes, nice depth, cleanly focused. On the palate, dense, well-supported, creamy tannins, tight-knit finish. Those who—for good reason—haven’t bought Camensac in recent years should start taking note again, as the new team is making far better wines than their predecessors. Could gain another point if it lives up to all its promises. 07: artisanal bouquet, distinctly Médoc in style. Powerful, lots of muscle, shows a bit more arrogance (character?) than at the en primeur tasting.

91-93 Barrel sample. A big, firm and hard wine, with solid fruits, layers of dry tannin and great power. There's an intensity to this wine with acidity adding to the complexity and structure.