Wine Spectator, October 2007
Has gorgeous mouthfeel, with intense,
racy layers of boysenberry, raspberry ganache and fig that pump along velvety
tannins while notes of Turkish coffee, mocha, fruitcake and chocolate fill
in the background. The superlong finish flaunts power and depth, but stays
pure and refined. Drink now through 2032. 97 points and Collectibles
Designation.
Stephen
Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Jan/Feb 07
Inky purple. Intense blackberry and
raspberry preserve aromas show great depth and ripeness -no surprise, as
Sabon told me that components of this are over 17.4% alcohol. Lush, creamy
and almost liqueur-like in sweetness, but with good acid lift to the ripe
boysenberry and blackberry flavors. Tannins sneak in on the back but are
overwhelmed by the sheer weight of fruit. Stains the palate with dark fruit
flavors. This was one of the highlights of my trip.
94-97 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Feb 2007
Possibly the wine of the vintage, the
2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes, which is up around 16% natural
alcohol, actually as remarkable levels of acidity and a low pH for Chateauneuf
du Pape. Dense, full-bodied, with an inky/purple color, extremely backward,
but with layer upon layer of fruit and richness, this wine has enormous
concentration, texture, and body as well as amazing precision and freshness.
This is certainly a Chateauneuf du Pape meant for long-term aging and probably
best put away for 5-8 years and drunk over the following 20-25 years. This
possibly could be a legendary wine in the making.
94-96 points |
