Lamarche La Grande Rue Grand Cru 2005

97 points Jasper Morris, MW (Inside Burgundy): "A full purple colour with an attractive sheen of new oak on top of the plump fruit. Here the oak is playing second fiddle to the concentration of the fruit. The acidity is correct, the tannins are completely hidden behind the intensity of the fruit, the length is certainly there. This is a giant in the making, quiet at the moment but with great potential and a feeling of magical fruit waiting to be unleashed. (Nov 2010)"

95 points Allen Meadows (Burghound): "(harvested September 17th). A hint of menthol adds nuance to the mostly highly-spiced red berry fruit nose that is quite reserved if beautifully complex while leading to sweet, delicious, generous and round medium full flavors that are classy and refined, all wrapped in a strikingly persistent and explosive finish. This offers excellent cellar potential and at this early stage the wood, which is normally fairly prominent, is already well integrated but note that this will need every bit of 15 years, perhaps even slightly longer, to arrive at its prime as it's very structured. A really beautiful LGR that showed even a bit better than it had only three weeks earlier as it was given the benefit of an hour's worth of air. Drink: 2020+. (2Q:2008)"

94 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Good deep red. Coolish, discreet aromas of cherry, minerals and menthol. Broad, lush and pure; a step up in sweetness and flesh from this estate's other 2005s but with strong mineral and crushed stone elements giving real punch to the red fruit and floral flavors. This has real grand cru weight and palate presence. Finishes with harmonious tannins and superb aromatic persistence. A beauty-and built for long life in bottle. (Mar/Apr 2008)"