Probably my last 05 for a while, but a good one – note that the wax is a little brittle, so extract your cork over the sink or the bin!

2005 Vincent et Denis Berthaut, Fixin 1er Les Arvelets
Like most 05s, this is impressively deep coloured. The aroma is deep, relatively dark fruit mixes with faint herbs – eventually there’s a cracking high-toned acid-cherry note. Mouth-filling, with growing intensity – indeed it’s hard to keep it in your mouth – either spit or swallow – I was happy with the latter! There is a strong undertow of well-textured, ripe tannin that underpins the long finishing flavours with a little bitterness – that’s an observation of style, not criticism. Because of this style, this should be regarded as a masculine wine of muscle and concentration, but not brutish; very much in a clichéd Gevrey / northern Nuits style, indeed though, its structure could be mistaken for its Pommard namesake! It is excellent!
Rebuy – Yes