Ch. de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2005

"The 2005 Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a wine that probably needs 7-10 years of bottle age. Possibly the most backward and closed Beaucastel made since the 1995, the wine has very high tannins, seems totally closed aromatically, but in the mouth is a weighty wine exhibiting a dense ruby/purple color and tight aromatics consisting of new saddle leather, porcini, meat juices, licorice, tar, and black fruits. The wine is full-bodied, powerful, very tannic, and structured in a dramatically masculine, ageworthy style. This is one for the younger generation or those with considerable patience. I can't see it being close to drinkable before 2014 and lasting up to 30 or more years."
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
94 Points

"Really dense and locked up now, this is packed with dark fig, currant and blackberry fruit shrouded by layers of tar, hot stone, bittersweet licorice and espresso. The long, dense finish has a great tug of iron buried within it. Best from 2011 through 2030."
Wine Spectator
96 Points

1. Dominus Estate 2005
2. Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
3. Luce Brunello di Montalcino 2003

1. Faustino I Gran Reserva 1982
2. Faustino I Gran Reserva 1995
3. Faustino V Reserva 1995

1. Marques de Caceres Rioja Reserva 2001
2. Dom. Pierre Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape Tradition 2006
3. Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2003