This is the first release of a special project of Jeremy Renard and the proprietor of Chateau d’Arsac in Margaux. Under Renard’s guidance, each year a single vineyard parcel from Chateau d'Arsac is completely controlled by a single, world-renowned winemaker. Michel Rolland launched the project, and he has been followed by other luminaries in the wine world. Rolland had the good fortune to benefit from an excellent vintage, and the result is a 5,000-case lot of sensational wine. The 2005 possesses a forward, voluptuous style, so it will have early appeal, but don’t discount its potential to last 15-20 years. It offers a dense ruby/purple hue along with a smoky perfume of sweet cherries, blackberries, roasted coffee, and a hint of tobacco leaf. There is a seamless integration of acidity, tannin, and wood in this complete, full-bodied wine. The finish lasts for 35-40 seconds. This beauty can be drunk now or cellared for 15-20 years.
Technical Details
Blend63% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon
WinemakerMichael Rolland
CountryFrance
RegionBordeaux
AppellationHaut-Medoc
VineyardChateau d'Arsac
Alcohol13.5%
Shop All Wines The Winemakers` Collection Cuvee No. 1 Michel Rolland Haut-Medoc 2005
The Winemakers` Collection Cuvee No. 1 Michel Rolland Haut-Medoc 2005
Proprietary Blends | France
WA93
$60.00
$34.95
()
| 750mL
SOLD OUT
41% off retail!
Too late, we are SOLD OUT!
93 points from Robert Parker himself and drinking beautifully right now. Cheaper than buying en primeur, but the aging is done for you! Unreal!! 2005 Bordeaux, people! At an off-the-charts, mind-melting price that will never be seen again! We got a hold of a parcel (after months of arm-wrestling and wicked negotiating) that is going to disappear quick! Just a flat-out gorgeous, powerful, flavorful wine with huge aromatics of sandalwood, cigar box, Cuban tobacco, creme de cassis and chocolate. It's layered with flavors of violets, cassis, mocha, warming spices, bay laurel and finishes with spiced plum. The palate shows some more secondary and tertiary flavors with mouth-coating tannins and layers of more chocolate and tobacco, on top of notes of blackberry and black plum reduction. There is a lot to uncover here over an evening!
PAIRING IDEAS: Let’s start off this week right with this absolute classic -- Beef Wellington. Grab some cremini or chanterelles, puff pastry, and a beautiful beef tenderloin, and you're ready to go.
MUSIC SUGGESTIONS: How about some English rock by Muse “Panic Station“ - this wine “defies the imagination!”
About the Producer
"This exciting, totally new concept will be fascinating to follow over the ensuing years. The negociant firm of Bordeaux Millesimes decided to launch a wine with a cinematic approach, choosing one of the world’s great winemakers to focus on a single terroir, in this case the vineyard of Chateau d’Arsac in the southern Medoc, and produce 5,000 cases with no compromises. Everything is done at the discretion of the winemaker, from yields, the choice of fermenters, the type of barrels, the time in oak, and the manner in which the wine is bottled. The winemaker will change each year. Episode 1, which will be released in 2007, is produced by Michel Rolland, whose serious image appears on the label. The winemaker for Episode 2 will be the well-known University of Bordeaux professor, Denis Dubourdieu. The choice for Episode 3 will apparently be one of California’s greatest winemakers, assuming the details can be worked out. The following years will be handled by some of the great winemakers of France, California, Italy, Spain, Australia, and elsewhere. All will be utilizing the same terroir, but will obviously be faced with vintage variations, yet will have carte blanche to do whatever they want. Since these winemakers all possess brilliant resumes (and egos to match in some cases), this will be a serious competition among the creme de la creme."
