Chateau La Couspaude Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe 2005

92 Points Wine Advocate: A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by sweet, intense aromas of raspberries, black cherry liqueur, licorice, and spicy oak. Full-bodied and fleshy, with the wealth of fruit and extract hiding moderately high tannin, it reveals low acidity and 13.5% alcohol. This 17-acre vineyard owned by Jean-Claude Aubert continues to fashion modern-styled, flashy clarets that are blends of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard fared well in 2003 since it sits on clay and limestone soils. Yields were a low 35 hectoliters per hectare. As a postscript, I had this wine on four separate occasions. At one tasting, I rated it (91-93), noting it was the finest Couspaude I had tasted, with a personality reminiscent of a big 1990 St.-Emilion. It should drink well for 10-15 years.
La Couspaude is planted with the same grape varieties as the other great wines of Saint-Emilion, and in similar proportions: a large majority of Merlot (75%), as well as Cabernet Franc (15%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%). It is this predominance of Merlot, much more hardy than Cabernet, which accounts for the large number of old vines and the impressive average age (40 years). This situation is perpetuated by complantation (the replacing of individual vines rather than entire vineyard plots).