One of the most respected names in wine writing, James Suckling of Wine Spectator , has heralded the 2005 Red Bordeaux wines as "some of the best I have tasted in my career," reports www.bbr.com. Suckling's scores for the vintage include 35 wines rated in the highest 95-100 points category. Among the top scorers are most of the first growths: Latour, Lafite, Margaux, Haut-Brion, Cheval Blanc and Ausone.

Many second-tier chateaux have also been performing well recently. Cos d'Estournel, Leoville-Las-Cases, Leoville-Barton, Ducru Beaucaillou, La Mission Haut-Brion and Palmer figure in Suckling's top points range. There are one or two surprises in the top tier as well, with the likes of Malescot-St-Exupéry and Pontet Canet finding a place in this hallowed company.

Commenting on the quality of the reds, James Suckling exults, "They are rich and powerful, with loads of juicy, opulent, ripe fruit and powerful tannins, yet they also have a wonderful freshness due to their bright, crisp acidities."

"It is 1982, with 40 hectoliters per hectare compared to 80 hectoliters," says Jean-Guillaume Prats, who heads Cos-d'Estournel, a second-growth estate in St-Estèphe famous for its old connection with Indian royal families.