Wine Advisor
Le Bon Pasteur 2005
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A beautiful wine from Dany and Michel Rolland, this 2005 is surprisingly concentrated and powerful – more so than usual. Deep ruby/purple, with plenty of black cherry and cassis fruit, licorice and a touch of caramel, this wine is still full, youthful, and set for another 15-20 years of longevity. This is a beauty and one of their strongest efforts in the first decade of the 21st century. For a terroir considered well below Pomerol’s superstars, this wine is a major overachiever.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The incomparable oenologist Michel Rolland has produced his finest Bon Pasteur since the monumental 1982 (which is still drinking well, and out-classes many wines 3 to 4 times its price). This exciting effort boasts aromas and flavors of mocha, fudge ice cream, espresso roast, black cherries, cassis, and caramel. The complex aromatics are followed by an enormously rich, pure, full-bodied wine with fabulous texture and length. It should be drinkable in 5-6 years, and last for 25 or more.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A deep purple hue. The plummy ripe nose lacks a little definition: touch of sea salt. Very tannic on the palate, very rich and supple with good grip. A lot of new oak dominating proceedings, perhaps too much. Dense tannic and plummy, blackberry finish. Fine. Tasted April 2006.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A superb effort from this Pomerol estate, the 2005 ranks alongside their outstanding 2000, 1990, and 1982. It exhibits a dense blue/purple color as well as an extraordinary perfume of espresso roast, mocha, blueberries, cassis, and smoky licorice. Full-bodied with sweet tannin, stunning definition, layers of concentration, and the tell-tale freshness and delineation that make 2005 such a singular vintage, it should be drunk between 2009-2023.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A superb effort from proprietors Dany and Michel Rolland, the 2005 Bon Pasteur is the antithesis of the kind of wine Rolland’s critics claim he makes (which they ignorantly suggest are over-oaked, over-extracted, and over-the-top). Nothing could be further from the truth. Rolland, a brilliant oenologist, has done more than any other person alive today for the quality of Bordeaux. His 2005 Bon Pasteur is an elegant, subtle, deep ruby/purple-colored wine offering hints of graphite, sweet mocha, black cherries, and berries that build incrementally in the mouth, ending in a cascade of full-bodied, concentrated fruit with good acidity, beautiful tannin, and stunning precision as well as length. The tannin structure suggests 3-5 years of cellaring is warranted, but based on past examples (even the opulent 1982, which is still going strong), the 2005 should age for 25-30 years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted single blind at Southwold. Fresh blackberry, cranberry and minerals on the nose all with excellent definition. Ripe black fruits on the nose, just lacking the definition and poise on the palate. Slightly overdone towards the finish, although time should soften this Pomerol. Drink 2011-2020. Tasted January 2009.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the chateau with Dany Rolland as part of a vertical, this is superior to other bottles that I had tasted hitherto. The 2005 has a very deep garnet/purple colour. The bouquet is rich and hedonistic, black plum, liquorice and a touch of white pepper before calming down with aeration. There appears to be a lot of glycerine. The palate is full-bodied, slightly grainy on the entry, firm tannins, nicely poised, becoming more masculine and assertive towards the finish. Not a decadent Bon Pasteur - this is a wine with serious intentions (perhaps challenging the 2000 or 1998 in 20 years time!) There is impressive weight and persistency on the finish. This is a long-term Bon Pasteur. Tasted September 2009.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Brightruby-red. Captivating nose offers floral red fruits, licorice, minerals and coffee, plus a suggestion of hard candy. Dense, backward and powerful, with an impression of elevated alcohol but very good flavor definition. A very fresh and primary style of 2005, still a bit youthfully aggressive but with the inky dark fruit and torrefaction flavors to support a slow evolution in bottle. Today the wine's sweetness is under wraps and the alcohol and tannins are to the fore. This will need patience.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Saturated ruby-red. Superripe aromas of black plum, black cherry and mocha. Lush, layered and broad, with captivating flavors of dark fruits, espresso, dark chocolate and smoky oak; slightly inky. Finishes very ripe and sweet, with lush, broad tannins and lovely lingering sweetness. A highly successful vintage for the home property of Michel and Dany Rolland.
About the Producer
Château Le Bon Pasteur is a Pomerol estate, known for both the lush, supple quality of its wine and its history as the family property of the renowned wine consultant Michel Rolland. The seven-hectare (16-acre) vineyard is located on the boundary with Saint-Émilion and has a wide range of soil types. It is planted predominantly to Merlot, with 15-20 percent Cabernet Franc – exact proportions are hard to measure as some plots are mixed. Some of the vines were planted in the 1950s. The grapes are harvested by hand, and are fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The wines are then aged in predominantly new French oak for around 18 months and bottled without fining or filtration. World-renowned winemaking consultant Michel Rolland took over the running of Le Bon Pasteur in 1978, although the estate had been in the family since 1920. It was sold to a Chinese investor in 2013, although Rolland remains as winemaker and estate manager.
