Chateau Gruaud-Larose, Saint-Julien, 2005

This is a mature Saint-Julien from a legendary vintage, drinking beautifully right now. Gruaud-Larose is a second growth with one of the Medoc's largest old-vine vineyards, and its wines are famously rich, structured and long-lived. The 2005 came from one of the great classic Bordeaux years: a dry, even season that gave deeply concentrated wines with ripe tannins and remarkable balance. At around two decades old, this bottle has softened into its prime, trading primary fruit for the savory, layered complexity that makes aged Bordeaux worth the wait. Decant it an hour ahead. It is ready to drink now and will hold comfortably for years yet.