Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge (1.5-liter bottle) 2005

Number 1 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2007!

"This is really tight now, but it's packed with dark fig, currant, espresso, licorice and chocolate notes. Superfleshy but seriously structured, there's layer after layer of sweet spice, fruit and minerality pumping through the finish, with lots of latent depth and power. Far more backward than the 2003 and 2004 on release, but considering this typically puts on weight as it ages, it should be a monster, à la the 1990, when it reaches its peak. Best from 2009 through 2030."
Wine Spectator
98 Points

"The 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape has a deeper color than the 2004 and 2003 that I tasted side by side, and with its dense ruby/purple color to the rim, the wine has a fabulous bouquet of kirsch liqueur, raspberries, licorice, and a combination of spice and Provencal herbs. It is rich, full-bodied, with high but sweet tannin, good acidity, and a blockbuster finish of close to 45+ seconds. This is a knock-out wine that will probably need 4-5 years of bottle age and last for 20-25 years. This exquisitely run estate continues to turn out wines of great fragrance, richness as well as flavor authority and integrity."
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate Barrel Sample: 94-96 Points