2005 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations:
Welcome to Vintage Wine and Port's 2005 wine page. Read on for our summary of the 2005 vintage, our top recommendations and region reports. Scroll down to see all of our wines currently available. If you cannot find what you are looking for please call us on 01425 837177 or Contact Us. We would love to help you with your wine choice!
Throughout the wine world, 2005 was, for most regions, a phenomenally good vintage.
In France; Bordeaux, Sauternes, Burgundy, the Loire and the Rhône Valley all enjoyed a legendary year, with a warm but not overly hot, extremely dry summer, which allowed the grapes to achieve great concentration, depth and complexity. Italy had a so-so year and, although undoubtedly some very good wines were made. Overall, it would be difficult to be disappointed by a 2005 wine.
Our Wine Expert currently recommends the following wines for this year:
This Year in History: Fun Fact: The New Forest in Hampshire becomes England's 12th National Park.
Eurovision Winner: Greece with the song "My Number One" by Helena Paparizou
Top Grossing Movie: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Bordeaux: 2005 was an outstanding vintage in Bordeaux, one that produced wines that are rich in substance, flavour and tannin, and from which most have good acidity. 2005 Bordeaux wines were built in many cases for the long haul. The flavours are fresh and certainly cool climate in style, despite the character of the vintage; many show delightfully lively cranberry, redcurrant, red cherry and crunchy blackcurrant leaf character, and yet have a depth, substance and richness. These would make a great 20 year old wine gift for an anniversary this year.
Italian: In Tuscany and Piedmont climate conditions were erratic, with many producers saying 2005 had been a tough and difficult vintage. These tough weather conditions often mean that only the best producers get the best results; the best wines will be Brunello, Barolo or Barbaresco.
Portugal: The 2005 Port Vintage was not widely declared but, nevertheless produced some excellent ports. The big producers did not declare the vintage and concentrated on producing Single Quinta ports from selected vineyards. Some smaller producers did declare 2005. The 2005 vintage ports are already approachable but would benefit from further cellaring.
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56 products found.
Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal, 2005
Pauillac 5th Growth Classification, Bordeaux
***90 Points - Robert Parker***
Haut-Bages Libéral's undeniably fine terroir (next to First Growth Ch. Latour, no less) has been harnessed superbly in 2005. Claire Villars delivers what most Claret lovers really want - namely, wines of character that reflect their terroir, offered at sensible prices. Made from 25% Merlot and 75% Cabernet, this has a lovely fresh, elegant nose; the palate is feminine in style with a lovely creamy finesse but also has rich, spicy damson and blackberry fruit and very good grip. The finish is very pure with an attractive marzipan edge providing an extra layer of complexity.
Château Haut-Bages Libéral is a distinguished wine estate located in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux, France. …
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Price: £69.95
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Kirwan, 2005
Margaux 3me Cru Classe, Bordeaux ** 90+ Points Robert Parker **
Château Kirwan is a wine that is produced from the best parcels of the vineyard that have mainly gravel soils, but some are also clay. The fruit is picked and sorted twice by hand, then vinified in separate batches corresponding to individual vineyard parcels. Half the oak barrels used to age the wine for eighteen months are renewed every year.
Overall production : 7500 caisses
Blending : 52 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot
Tasting :
From birth to bottling, this vintage was always impressive. Its nose is exuberant, mixing notes of complex fruit, from spicy to exotic aromas such as mango. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 8 in Stock
Chateau Leoville Barton, 2005
St Julien 2nd Growth Classification
Price: £159.00
Stock: 5 in Stock
Chateauneuf du Pape, 2005
Chateau de Beaucastel
Medium to deep garnet colour. Pretty perfume of freshly crushed raspberries / blackberries with nuances of wet leaves, cinnamon and white pepper. The medium to full bodied palate provides a good concentration of juicy berry fruit countered by medium to high acidity and a medium level of velvety tannins. Wonderfully balanced. Long finish.
Its dense plum/ruby/purple colour is followed by a big, sweet perfume of black truffles, camphor, earth, incense, new saddle leather, and loads of peppery, blackberry, and herb-infused, meaty, black cherry fruit. Deep, full-bodied, and dense, with sweet tannin. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 10 in Stock
Chateauneuf du Pape, 2005
G. Maurel, "La Sanglarde" Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005
The G. Maurel, "La Sanglarde" Châteauneuf-du-Pap has a pale and clearly developed colour. Smells of underbrush and some dark berries. Medium body, good length, and wonderful acidity, little tannins left. Delicious! Scores on elegance rather than power. Fully mature.
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Price: £59.95
Stock: 2 in Stock
Gaja, 2005
Barolo "Conteisa"
95 Points- Wine Enthusiast
The 2005 Barolo Conteisa by Gaja conveys the winery's dedication to producing exceptional Barolo wines that honor tradition while embracing innovation. Renowned for blending modern techniques with traditional practices, Gaja has crafted this wine to reflect the unique terroir of the region. The wine is ready to drink now but will continue to evolve for the next decade or two.
Tasting Notes:
The 2005 vintage is rich with dark fruit, such as cherry and plum, along with hints of roses, herbs, and earthy spices. The wine tends to have the classic Barolo tannins, which are firm yet well-integrated, alongside a long, elegant finish. …
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Price: £285.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Gaja, 2005
Gaja Conteisa Barolo
Special offer | slightly damaged labels | Was £295 | Now £265
95 Points- Wine Enthusiast
The 2005 Barolo Conteisa by Gaja conveys the winery's dedication to producing exceptional Barolo wines that honor tradition while embracing innovation. Renowned for blending modern techniques with traditional practices, Gaja has crafted this wine to reflect the unique terroir of the region. The wine is ready to drink now but will continue to evolve for the next decade or two.
Tasting Notes:
The 2005 vintage is rich with dark fruit, such as cherry and plum, along with hints of roses, herbs, and earthy spices. The wine tends to have the classic Barolo tannins, which are firm yet well-integrated, alongside a long, elegant finish. …
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Price: £265.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Gaja, 2005
Gaja - Sperss
The 2005 Gaja Sperss is an exceptional Barolo from the prestigious Gaja winery in Piedmont, Italy. Made predominantly from the Nebbiolo grape, this wine reflects the unique terroir of Serralunga d'Alba, a region known for producing structured and long-lived wines. Angelo Gaja’s meticulous winemaking approach, combining traditional methods with modern techniques, has resulted in a wine that is both powerful and refined.
On the nose, the 2005 Sperss reveals layers of ripe black fruit, licorice, smoke, and exotic spices, accented by notes of truffle and new leather. The palate is rich and deeply structured, with firm tannins providing a solid backbone. …
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Price: £329.00
Stock: 4 in Stock
Graham's Port
20 year old Tawny Port, Douro
Includes Graham's Gift Tube
***96 Points- Decanter***
A Graham's 20 Year Old Tawny Port is an excellent choice for those who appreciate fine aged ports, offering a rich, complex, and satisfying drinking experience that showcases the expertise and tradition of one of the leading port houses.
Tasting Notes
With an amber, golden tawny colour, denoting considerable age, Graham's 20 Years Old has an excellent bouquet, with a characteristic 'nutty' character (almonds) and delicious mature fruit with hints of orange peel, exquisitely mellowed by careful ageing. Rich, sweet and smooth on the palate, it is perfectly balanced, with a long and lingering finish. …
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Price: £39.95
Stock: 4 in Stock
Hooper's Port, 2005
Vintage Port
The 2005 Hooper's Vintage Port is a fortified wine from Portugal's Douro Valley, produced by Hooper's, a brand with a history dating back to the 19th century.
Flavor Profile: While specific tasting notes for the 2005 vintage are limited, Hooper's Vintage Ports are generally known for their rich, sweet profiles, often exhibiting flavors of dried fruits like raisins, prunes, and figs, along with notes of marzipan, roasted hazelnuts, vanilla, and cedar.
Serving Suggestions: For optimal enjoyment, it's recommended to store the wine horizontally at a constant temperature of around 15ºC and serve it between 15ºC and 18ºC. …
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Price: £49.95
Stock: 42 in Stock
Merlot, 2005
Cassine di Pietra
Very forward nose of leather and cherries, liquorice wild strawberries, ripe plums and pencil .The palate is very nice balance of sweet fruit and acidity.
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Price: £19.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Offley Port
20 Year Old Tawny Port, Douro
Includes original Carton Box
***93 points- Wine Enthusiast***
The Offley 20 Year Old Tawny Port is an excellent choice for those who appreciate fine aged tawny ports. Its rich and complex character, balanced sweetness, and smooth finish make it a delightful option for special occasions or as a luxurious treat.
Tasting notes:
With a well-defined tawny hue with orange-like hints, its aroma is intense and complex, with notes of vanilla, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, exotic wood, cedar, plum and hazel. On the palate, its fine structure and balance between sugars and tannins stand out. The finish is delicate and lingering.
Serving & Food Pairing:
Tawny Ports are ready-to drink and do not require decanting. …
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Price: £39.95
Stock: 15 in Stock
Recioto, 2005
Spada
"Recioto," as in "Recioto della Valpolicella," refers to a dessert wine made from grapes that were dried on mats after picking. This process turns the grapes closer to raisins, concentrating the flavors. The wines are lovely and taste how you'd expect raisins-turned-wine to taste, rich and sweet.
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Price: £49.00
Stock: 6 in Stock
Refosco, 2005
Cassine di Pietra
Refosco is a very old Italian family of dark-skinned grape varieties native to the northern Italian and neighbouring areas of Friuli, Gavi, Trentino,Istria, and Karst Plateau.It is considered autochthonous in these regions. The wines this grape yields can be quite powerful and tannic, with a deep violet color and a slight bitterness. On the palate, there are strong currant, wild berry and plum flavors. The wine can stand some aging.
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Price: £29.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Refosco, 2005
Cassine di Pietra
Refosco is a very old Italian family of dark-skinned grape varieties native to the northern Italian and neighbouring areas of Friuli, Gavi, Trentino,Istria, and Karst Plateau.It is considered autochthonous in these regions. The wines this grape yields can be quite powerful and tannic, with a deep violet color and a slight bitterness. On the palate, there are strong currant, wild berry and plum flavors. The wine can stand some aging.
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Price: £29.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Refosco, 2005
Cassine di Pietra
Very forward nose of leather and cherries, liquorice wild strawberries, ripe plums and pencil .The palate is very nice balance of sweet fruit and acidity.
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Price: £29.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Rossese, 2005
Coop F. Riviera dei Fiori
Very forward nose of leather and cherries, liquorice wild strawberries, ripe plums and pencil .The palate is very nice balance of sweet fruit and acidity.
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Price: £29.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Sangiovese, 2005
Anagramma SCIC
Good-quality Sangiovese is prized for its high acid, firm tannins and balanced nature. Savory flavors of dark cherries and black stone fruit are characteristic, and may be backed by secondary notes of tomato leaf and dried herbs. The use of oak has become more popular and this coaxes richer flavors from the grapes, tending toward plum and wild raspberry.
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Price: £29.00
Stock: 4 in Stock
São Leonardo by Quinta do Mourao
20 Year Old Tawny Port, Douro
*** 92 Points- Wine Advocate ***
Clearance Offer - discontinued line | Was £68.95 | Now £45
The 20-year-old São Leonardo Tawny Port by Mourão is a superb example of a finely aged tawny port, offering a rich and nuanced drinking experience that is perfect for special occasions or as a luxurious treat.
Tasting Notes
Typical of aged tawny ports, it exhibits a beautiful amber or tawny hue. On the nose, intense and complex aromas of dried fruits, vanilla, honey, and toasted wood, with hints of oxidation that add to its depth. Rich on the palate, with flavours of dried fruits like figs, apricots, and raisins, alongside notes of nuts, caramel, toffee, and subtle spices. The long, elegant finish showcases its complexity. …
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Price: £45.00
Stock: 17 in Stock
Valpolicella, 2005
Spada
The Valpolicella zone is bordered to the west by the Bardolino DOC, located along the banks of Lake Garda, which produces similar wines to basic Valpolicella using many of the same grapes. The historical "heart" of Valpolicella winemaking is in the Monti Lessini hills located northwest of the town of Verona. In 1968, the boundaries of the region were extended far eastward towards the DOC production zone of Soave and south to the plains of the northern bank of the Po river and its tributary the Adige.
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Price: £29.00
Stock: 11 in Stock
Burmester
20 Year Old Tawny Port
In Gift Tube
95 Points-GOLD- Decanter
93 Points- International Wine Challenge
The Burmester 20 Year Old Tawny Portis a distinguished and complex wine, reflecting two decades of meticulous aging.
Tasting Note:
The Burmester 20 Year Old Tawny Port is a deep amber with mahogany hues, indicating significant aging. Its aroma is rich and complex, with dried fruits, toffee, caramel, honey, roasted nuts, and subtle spice. On the palate, it is smooth and velvety, with hints of dried fruit, butterscotch, brown sugar, molasses, toasted walnuts, almonds, dark chocolate, coffee, and orange peel. The wine's acidity is well-balanced, providing freshness and a lasting impression. …
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Price: £46.95
Stock: Out of Stock
Kopke
20 Year Old White Port, Douro
Half bottle
Presented In Original Kopke Box
***Gold Medal IWC 2022***
Tasting Notes Cool, light-amber colour, this unique white “tawny” port derives from the traditional white grapes of the Porto e Douro region. Starting with aromas of a Pear Clafoutis and burnt sugar, this elegant port delivers luscious flavours of Japanese pear-apple, with accents of hazelnut, nutmeg and orange zest. The lingering grapefruit finish provides the perfect balance for the sweetness. 18 pts Revista de Vinhos.
*Bottled in 2019
Learn more about 20-year-old White Port
Malvasia Fina, Sercial, Códega, Gouveio. …
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Price: £38.95
Stock: Out of Stock
Kopke, 2005
White Port, Douro
Presented in Kopke Gift Box
***95 Points- Gold Medal- IWSC 2023***
The 2005 Kopke White port has a cool, light-amber colour. This unique white colheita derives from the traditional white grapes of the Porto e Douro region. Starting with aromas of a Pear Clafouti and burnt sugar, this elegant port delivers luscious flavours of Japanese pear-apple, with accents of hazelnut, nutmeg and orange zest. The lingering grapefruit finish provides the perfect balance for the sweetness.
Food Pairing:
Shows finesse and sophistication when combined with caramel desserts, dried fruits and spices, like caramel fondant with apple and ginger jelly, tatin tart, burnt cream and Cheeses of minimum intensity. …
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Price: £49.95
Stock: Out of Stock
Chateau Belair, 2005
St Emilion Grand Cru Classe
The 2005 Château BelAir is a wine that exemplifies the superb quality of the 2005 vintage in Bordeaux, a year celebrated for near-perfect growing conditions that resulted in wines with excellent ripeness, structure, and aging potential. Located in the Lussac-Saint-Émilion appellation, Château Bel-Air benefits from the terroir and climate of this area, known for producing Merlot-dominant blends with accessible, rich fruit and soft tannins.
On the nose, this 2005 Château BelAir opens with inviting aromas of black cherry, plum, and blackberry, layered with hints of mocha, tobacco, and subtle spices. …
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Price: £82.95
Stock: Out of Stock
Chateau Cos d'Estournel, 2005
St Estephe, 2nd Growth Classification
The 2005 Château Cos d'Estournel is a powerful and highly acclaimed wine, reflecting the exceptional quality of the 2005 Bordeaux vintage. Known for its opulence and concentration, this Saint-Estèphe gem is often regarded as one of the top wines of its year, showcasing the estate’s signature depth and complexity.
The wine opens with a captivating bouquet of dark blackberries, cassis, and plums, intertwined with notes of spice, licorice, and hints of Asian spices—characteristic of Cos d'Estournel's exotic profile. Smoky, earthy undertones and nuances of cedar and cigar box add layers to the aromatic experience, giving a nod to the wine’s well-integrated oak. …
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Price: £225.00
Stock: Out of Stock