Vieille Jullien Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge Reserve 2005

Kicking off a series of wines that I consider to be as good as it gets, the 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve incorporates slightly more Grenache than normal and checks in at over 16% alcohol; certainly you’d never know it by tasting it however, and it’s perfectly balanced. Still inky purple in color, it possesses beautiful freshness and focus, with killer notes of blackcurrants, liquid violets, licorice, crushed rock and cured meats all soaring from the glass. As with the ’09 and ’06, it has off-the-charts concentration, thrilling mid-palate depth and serious structure. Give it another handful of years and it will be one of the longest lived Chateauneufs out there. 100 points rated by Jeb Dunnuck