The Winemaker's Collection Cuvee No. 1 Michel Rolland Haut-Medoc

Red Bordeaux blend. "This special project of the Bordeaux negociant, Bordeaux Millesimes (called Once Upon a Wine), and its proprietor, Dominique Renard, was originally labeled “The Winemakers’ Collection, Episode 1," but the name had to be changed. As I wrote last year, in each vintage, one of the world’s greatest winemakers (Michel Rolland in 2005 and Denis Dubordieu in 2006) is chosen to focus on a single parcel of a given terroir, in this case, Chateau d’Arsac. Five-thousand cases will be produced in 2005, and everything, including viticulture, fermentation, upbringing, and bottling, is being controlled by the chosen winemaker who has full control over the winemaking team, the yields, the choice of fermenters, the style and type of barrels, the time in oak, and the manner in which the wine is bottled. Michel Rolland was fortunate to be chosen in 2005 as this is an exceptional vintage. It boasts classic richness, deep, smoky, black currant and sweet cherry fruit, a gorgeously opulent texture, decent acidity, high but sweet tannin, and a seamless, full-throttle mouthfeel. This stunning effort competes with some of Bordeaux’s finest wines. It should age effortlessly for 15 or more years. Score: 94points." Robert Parker.