2005 Château Belle-Vue Haut Médoc

Tonight is a celebration, not only of wine and food, but of my 100th blog post!  Now to celebrate such an auspicious occasion, I need a special wine, and what better than a nice example of a wonderful vintage, the 2005 Bordeaux!  So tonight I've opened a bottle of the 2005 Château Belle-Vue Haut Médoc, a rather interesting blend containing Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (27%), Petit Verdot (20%) and Carmenere (3%), and of course it's the bit of Carmenere that makes this one interesting! 

Now I've said before that the 2005 Bordeaux vintage was exceptional (see here: http://allaloneonaplanetfullofpeople.blogspot.com/2011/04/2005-chateau-la-tour-de-bessan-margaux.html) but unfortunately it's been overshadowed by the hype over 2009 and 2010, which is a shame since many of the 2005s are drinking very nicely right now, including this one.

The 2005 Château Belle-Vue Haut Médoc presents a deep, inky red color in the glass, with some brightness around the edges.  The nose is quintessential Bordeaux, with hints of vanilla, spice, leather and cedar.  There's also a hint of smoke that seems to tie everything together.  The taste presents some early hints of ripe fruit which quickly gives way to a gravel and a bit of jamminess midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat sharp still providing for a long, dry and satisfying finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, with some potential to improve over the next few years, and the price was a bargain from Wines Till Sold Out at only $18!  Tonight I am enjoying it with some teriyaki glazed grilled pork tenderloin, white rice and steamed veggies, but this wine would go well with most grilled meats or, dare I say it, a 4th of July barbecue!  Bon appetite!