My fondest memory of 2005 is of the England vs. Australia “Ashes” cricket matches, which ended with England beating Australia for the first time in 19 years 😁.
(Let’s not think about the most recent Ashes contest… 😬.)
While that great 2005 Ashes series was taking place, on the other side of the Channel the grapevines in Bordeaux enjoyed a dry, warm summer.
I spent some time in Bordeaux that June and I can recall the warm evenings, with not a drop of rain to be seen anywhere.
It was the second driest year there since 1897 and the fifth-hottest vintage in 110 years, after 2003, 1949, 1921, and 1899, but ahead of 1906 and 1947.
Old-timers (i.e. even older than me) compared 2005’s wines to 1989, 1982, and 1947 – dense, rich, and textured.
Some estates produced masterpieces – like 2005 Pétrus,six bottles of which recently found a happy new home via Arden.
There’s still a bottle of Pétrus 1985 on the list, though the 2003 has also been and gone…
