Clos des Papes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rouge 2005

As a comparison to the 2015, Paul-Vincent pulled out a 2005 Châteauneuf du Pape which is a vintage he finds comparable. I can’t disagree with him that wines show similar characters today, however, the 2005 was much more opulent and powerful on release compared to the 2015 today. The 2005 is drinking beautifully and is just now starting to show secondary nuances. Spice-box, cedar, beautiful black (and some red) fruits and garrigue emerge from this beauty and it’s polished and elegant on the palate. It terrific today with a short decant and will keep for another decade.

The 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is elegance personified, opening with dried herbs, cassis, tobacco and forest floor, complex but without any distracting mushroom tones. It shows superbly after 90 minutes in a carafe, full-bodied and concentrated with resolved tannins carrying the long, generous finale. Don’t pop and pour, as this wine demands patience to reveal its full range. It will continue to age well for at least another 15 years if stored in a cool cellar.

(65% grenache, 20% mourvedre, 10% syrah and the rest "the others") Deep red. Explosively perfumed nose offers a profound bouquet of red and dark berries, licorice, incense and musky underbrush. Broad, palate-staining raspberry and blackcurrant flavors are enveloped in velvety tannins, with suave anise and Asian spices adding complexity. A huge but balanced-even graceful-wine, with a finish that refuses to let go of the palate. This remarkable young Chateauneuf has the sheer sex appeal to enjoy young but also possesses superb cellaring potential. I'd hold mine.

The 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Clos des Papes wafts from the glass with a complex and fresh bouquet of dark fruits, black cherry, licorice and spices. Full-bodied, round and suave, it strikes a compelling balance between power and elegance, with a concentrated yet weightless core of fresh fruit, tobacco and licorice that carries through a finish of considerable length and precision. The tannic load is not inconsiderable, and those seeking immediate pleasure may wish to allow it a few more years to fully integrate.